WH 




Bonk M4^K^ 



Joseph h. kennard, d.d. 



A MEMORIAL. 



BY , 

J. Spencer Kennard 

HIS SON AND SUCCESSOR IN THE PASTORAL OFFICE. 



Philadelphia: 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
530 ARCH STREET. 



.K44 K* 



0) ' 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 





I < c * 

11 ill e 

c c c e 

, c 



: c c c 



c ; c 



PRINTED 

BY JAS. B. RODGERS, 

PHILADELPHIA. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Preface 5 

CHAPTER I. 

THE D A WN. 
Birth' and Parentage — Reminiscences of Boyhood — Goes to Wilmington — . 
Conversion and Baptism — Call to Preach— First Labors for Christ — Mis- 
sionary Work — Settlement in Burlington and Hopewell — Marriage.... 7 

CHAPTER II. 

SOWING AND REAPING. 

Removal to Blockley — Large and Needy Field— Growing Labors — Revivals- 
Origin of State Convention — Missionary Work — Health prostrated — 
Call to New Market Street — Great Success — Origin of Tenth Church — 
Preaching in the " Hall" — Building of Meeting House— Great Revivals, 
Churches Formed — Abundant Fruits 35 

CHAPTER III. 

IN THE PULPIT. 
Natural Talents — Love for it, Faith in it — Mode of Preparation — Payson — 
Appearance — Conducting the Service — Public Prayers — Manner of 
Preaching— Secret of His Power 76 

CHAPTER IV. 

IN REVIVALS. 
His Ideal— The only Normal State for a Church — Preparation For— Revival 

Preaching — Fast Days — Revival Scenes '. 94 

CHAPTER V. 

IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. 
The Pulse of a Church — "Tenth Church Prayer Meeting" — Mode of Con- 
ducting— Love for Them— Incidents........ , , no 



iv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

IN CHURCH TRA'JNING. ?agz. 
The Church a Development — Ideas of the Pastoral Office — "Wisdom and Lore 
in Ruling — Care to Feed the Flock— Doctrinal Sermons — Adult Classes — 
Teaching to Give and to Work — Care for Children — Plans for their Con- 
version — Searching out Ministerial Gifts — Interest in Students — Minis- 
terial Education — Correspondence with Dr. Wayland . 120 

CHAPTER VII. 

IN PUBLIC RELATIONS. 

State Missionary Association — Philadelphia Association — Publication So- 
ciety, Home and Foreign Missions — Temperance — Observance of Lord's 
Day — In War Times — Noon Prayer Meeting — Catholicity.. '147 

CHAPTER VIII. 

IN PRIVATE MINISTRATIONS. 
Qualifications — Sympathy and Simplicity — Numbers who sought His Ad- 
vice — "Anxious Inquirers " — Skill in Dealing with Them — Efficacy in 
Prayer — Illustrations — The Pastor's Blessing — Yast Number of Fune- 
rals — In the S:ck Room — Care for the Poor — The Dying Soldier — Re- 
proving an Infidel — Letter to Young Man 183 

CHAPTER IX. 

IN HOME LIFE. 
Unselfishness — Affection — Habits and Tastes — Holiness — Cheerfulness — 
Politeness — Charity — Often Imposid On — Illustrations — The Mother — 
Habits of Study— Love of Children— Letters 201 

CHAPTER X. 

THE SUNSET. 
Closing Year — Christmas Surprises — Devotion of His Church to the Last — Re- 
vivals — Abounding Labors — Parental Yearnings — Birthday Gathering — 
Last Letters — Farewell to Association — Last Sermons — Twilight of the 
Lord's Day — Falling Asleep — A Mourning People — The Funeral — Tri- 
butes 223 

SERMONS AND MISCELLANIES. 
Divine Sovereignty, 259 — Godly Sorrow, 267 — Way of Treating Inquirers, 

276— Increasing the Efficacy of the Churches....... 2S1 



PREFACE. 



The world is not so full of goodness that we can willingly 
suffer the memory of that which has been with us and va- 
nished to be utterly lost. 

These pages are an humble attempt to portray a life hid 
with Christ in God, and therefore lustrous with the beauty 
of self-sacrifice. Not imagining such a book would be writ- 
ten, Dr. Kennard has left but few materials for it in tan- 
gible form. 

For the first chapter the author is indebted to the Rev. 
A. S. Patton, D. D., a son-in-law of Dr. Kennard, who has 
also kindly selected the sermons and miscellanies. He 
would also be guilty of ingratitude if he did not acknow- 
ledge the valuable assistance; especially in the last two chap- 
ters, rendered by a dear sister, who has always been his 
prompter and abettor in every good thought and deed. 

It will be observed, that only the first two chapters are 
in the form of a historical memoir; the rest is an attempt to 
portray our subject in the various relations of life as he ap- 
peared to our eyes. 

1* 



vi PREFACE. 

If it shall seem to some of our readers that, writing in the 
warmth of filial feeling, we offer them a eulogy rather than 
a memoir, we can only refer them for our apology to those 
other readers, who will wonder why we have said so little, 
and that so imperfectly. 

An English clergyman, of scholarship and discrimination, 
who sat for a while under his ministry, in an elaborate ana- 
lysis of his character says: "We have heard of painters 
and statuaries selecting from the beauties of many forms, 
relying upon a refined and divine imagination to form one 
complete whole ; but no accounts I ever read, no painting I 
ever saw, can give the faintest conception of what my mind 
realizes, as, at this moment, I recall that countenance and 
form. Apart from the effect of my first interview with him, 
there was, to my mind, something in the man so strikingly 
spiritual, that nothing in poetry ever conveyed to me the con- 
ception of man so free from the mere material and earthly. 
There was an expression of repose and benignity, a freedom 
from every thing that could call up a doubt or misgiving, the 
presence of every thing that could inspire the mind with con- 
fidence, and the heart with purest spontaneous love, such as 
left no consciousness of incompleteness. * * * I know many 
of his addresses and discourses were impromptu, and all ex- 
tempore; yet, generally, there was a maturity and vigor of 
thought expressed in language suited to his themes, that 
were evidences to me of a strong, clear mind and memory, 
of more than ordinary capacity; both improved by a habit 
of self-culture, and of constant, calm thought. 



JOSEPH. H. KEMAKD, D.D. 



CHAPTEK I. 



THE DA WJV. 




OSEPH HUGG KENNARD was born April 
24, 1798. His parents were Samuel and 
Elizabeth Hugq Kennaed. At the time 
of his birth they resided near the village of Haddon- 
field, in the State of New Jersey. They were mem- 
bers of the Society of Friends, and were in circum- 
stances of worldly comfort, owning a good farm and 
three grist mills, located on Timber Creek. Both 
father and mother were well informed, of affectionate 
disposition, and endowed with fine sensibilities and 
great energy. The uncle, Joseph Hugo, whose name 
was given to the subject of this memoir, was a man 
well known in Gloucester County as Squire Hugg, 
and was much respected for his dignity, urbanity, and 
worth. 

Doubtless such antecedents had their influence on 

the character of our subject; and it is evident from 

7 



8 JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 

the impressions he carried through life, that the sur- 
roundings of his early childhood were decidedly for- 
mative. We remember once driving with him by the 
old homestead, when he took great pleasure in telling 
us how his earliest days were spent. His childish 
plays were all recalled, and as he threw himself back 
into those innocent and happy years, he seemed to en- 
joy them over again. There stood the house; there 
the old mill; and he told us how, fancying himself a 
farmer, he would trudge with his shot bag full of grain 
to the mill, and, after persuading the men to grind it, 
would throw it over his back and carry it to the house 
with all the air of one proud to provide for a family. 
Biding a little farther on, his eye caught sight of the 
mill pond ; and there, playing around its banks, he re- 
membered the delight he felt in throwing pebbles, and 
watching the circling waves as they spread, and won- 
dering at their extent. Still farther on, he recognized 
the spot, where, with his rude box-trap, he caught his 
first squirrel and rabbit. And he seemed to experi- 
ence anew the excitement of those happy surprises. 

But these bright days did not long continue. At 
the age of five years, he was called to mourn the loss 
of his mother ; and, owing to the changes which fol- 
lowed in the home, three of the following years were 
remembered through life as a period of shadows. 



JOSEPB II. KENNARD, D.D. 9 

When about nine years old, he left his home to live 
■with one Squire Bynes, near Salem, 1ST. J. Here he 
was obliged to work hard ; though in other respects, 
he was kindly treated, and in the winter months en- 
joyed some advantages of schooling. 

In his fifteenth year he removed to the city of Wil- 
mington, Delaware, where he was employed as a sales- 
man in the dry-goods store of Samuel Harker. But 
shortly afterwards he took a situation in the book-store 
of a Mr. Porter, where he remained several years. 
From the first he made choice of the Rev. Daniel 
Dodge as his pastor, and under his faithful preaching 
was soon awakened to feel his lost condition, and to 
inquire after eternal life. In this state of mind he 
went to the house of the pastor, and though the par- 
lor was filled with guests, such was his anxiety that 
he saw no one but the good minister, and, going di- 
rectly up to him, he exclaimed, — "Is there any hope 
for a lost sinner?" The affectionate man folded his 
arms about him and held him to his bosom while he as- 
sured him of God's abounding grace toward the help- 
less and the guilty. Shortly after this, he found peace 
in believing, and on the Third of July, 1814, was 
baptized in the Brandywine upon a profession of his 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Immediately on his coming out of the water, he com- 



10 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

menced exhorting the people that lined the shore, say- 
ing, first of all, " Wonder not at me: wonder at your- 
selves," and counselling them, in a most tender and 
earnest manner, to seek at once an interest in the 
Saviour. Then and there, as he was often heard to 
say, the Lord called him to the work of the ministry, 
and he was not "disobedient to the heavenly vision," 
for he began to labor, as opportunity offered,* to win 
souls to Christ, and the most cheering results every 
where crowned his efforts. When at home, he was active 
in bringing numbers of young people under the influence 
of the gospel, and those with whom he had been accus- 
tomed to associate were made the special subjects of his 
pious care and earnest prayers. As he had been a 
ringleader in their sports, he now became equally pro- 
minent in guiding their feet into the paths of peace. 

But, in addition to these private labors, under the 
guidance, and sometimes in company with his pastor, 
he went out of the city, and spoke in private houses, 



* The old church record says, "Feb. 28, 1818. A letter from Jos. Ken- 
nard, was read and deferred, (referring to his call to preach.) 

"April 4th. The letter from Jos. Kennard, in which he stated his call 
to the work of the ministry, was read. He was requested to relate his 
exercises, which he did, and each Friday evening appointed for him to 
exercise his gifts. 

"Sept. 5th. The case of Brother Jos. Kennard taken up, and agreed, 
that he be licensed to preach the gospel wherever God, in his provi- 
dence, may send him. 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 11 

and school-rooms, and wherever the people could be 
gathered to hear. 

One of these early missionary visits to Salem he al- 
ways remembered with peculiar pleasure. His con- 
version becoming known among his old companions, 
his presence among them as a religious exhorter at- 
tracted unusual attention, and wherever he was an- 
nounced to speak great crowds came to hear him. 

Shortly after this, he attended, in different parts 
of New Jersey and Delaware, a number of what were 
known as " Woods Meetings." These were usually held 
for several days in succession; the most popular 
preachers being secured, and every proper appliance 
employed to insure the largest possible attendance of 
the people. 

On one of these occasions, after five able sermons 
had been heard during the day, he was called on to 
speak. With sincere modesty he desired to be ex- 
cused, feeling his insufficiency, but, being urged, he 
at last consented to speak a few closing words. That 
occasion marked an important period in his history. 
The address was one of unusual power. All hearts 
seemed to be moved by it; and, when the . exercises 
of the day terminated, it was evident that they had 
experienced a time of refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord. 



12 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D 

A wonderful interest was now felt in the "boy 
preacher," as he was generally called; and wherever 
he went, the most earnest desire was manifested to 
hear him, — many coming not less than fifteen miles to 
enjoy the privilege. 

For about two years, or until he was about eighteen 
years of age, he retained his situation as salesman in 
the book-store, enjoying the advantages afforded by 
his position in reading, and having the privilege of oc- 
casional absence for his missionary tours into the 
country. Nearly all the money received as wages 
during this time was spent in hiring horses and paying 
for other means of conveyance necessary to take him 
to neighboring towns, or into distant parts of the 
State. 

He now became fully convinced of his duty to de- 
vote his life to the work of the ministry; and, the 
church being satisfied that he was called of the Lord 
to bis service, in the month of September, 1818, gave 
him a license to preach the gospel wherever Provi- 
dence might open the door. He now felt the import- 
ance of a fuller education for his responsible work, and 
his plans were laid for prosecuting a somewhat ex- 
tended course of mental training. About this time, 
however, while taking a summer missionary journey 
on horseback, he was prostrated by a sun-stroke, 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD) D.D. 13 

which for several years disqualified him for pursuing 
closely any course of study. Two hours of application 
would cause the most acute suffering, and,, for more 
than four years, he was not able to go through the 
preparation of a single sermon without experiencing 
great inconvenience and distress. Still, he made the 
best use of his opportunities, and, up to the full mea- 
sure of his strength, fitted himself to preach the 
gospel. 

About this time, at the solicitation of many friends 
of Foreign Missions, and under the direction of 
Luther Bice, he accepted an appointment to present 
the claims of the heathen to the churches ; and espe- 
cially to raise funds for the vigorous prosecution of 
the work in Burmah. He entered upon this agency 
early in the year 1819, and, from an old journal, found 
since his death, we learn something of his journeyings, 
and are made acquainted with the subjects on which 
he preached, and the amount of money collected after 
each service. 

His fields embraced the State of Delaware and the 
lower counties of New Jersey. The distances travelled 
to fill appointments, and the number of meetings held, 
under this engagement, seem almost incredible. They 
are minutely reported, however, and not a few deeply 
interesting incidents are recorded, which give pleasing 
2 



14 JOSEPH II. KENNARD, D.D. 

and instructive glimpses of the men and manners of 
those days. 

Having devoted about three months to Delaware, he 
returned to Wilmington, and, after a short rest, set 
out on the 30th of July, 1819, for a tour in the other 
part of his field. Here he spent about two months in 
visiting the churches located between Burlington and 
Bridgeton. 

From the notes of this journey, it will not be amiss 
to transcribe a few short entries : 

"July 30, 1819 — Friday Morning. This day bade 
adieu to my brethren, with whom I have taken sweet 
counsel, that I might go and preach Christ and him 
crucified to the people. I rode beneath a scorching 
sun, which, with the thoughts running behind me, and 
the difficulties rising before me, almost laid me by. 

" July 31 — Saturday. Rode from Philadelphia to 
Burlington. The heat excessive — thermometer 96° 
in the shade. Have felt more comfortable in my 
mind, but the power of the sun and the sandy road 
almost prostrated my poor body. Through mercy, 
however, I am preserved. 

"August 1 — Lord's Day. Body refreshed and 
heart comfortable ; the pulpit very warm, but enjoyed 
precious liberty in speaking. 

"August 2 — Monday Evening. Preached at Coo- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 15 



perstown. An awful gust during service; felt to 
preach as if it was the Judgment. 

" August 3 — Tuesday. Rode to Haddonfield — felt 
to rejoice on the way that I had set out to teach re- 
pentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ. This place gave me my first birth, and now 
I come to tell the people they must be born again. 

" August 4 — Wednesday. Rode down to Woods- 
town ; rejoiced to see old friends, and to preach 
Christ to them. 

"August 5. Spent Thursday evening at Sharps- 
town — felt to preach as a dying man — a solemn time, 
and I have a strong impression that some were pricked 
in the heart. '0 Lord, own thy word 1 .' saith my 
soul. 

" August 6. Proceeded to Bridgeton, eighteen 
miles below, and from thence to Rev. H. Smalley's, 
four miles farther on. No appointment for the eve- 
ning. 

" August 7 — Saturday.- In company with Brother 
Smalley, went to Shiloh meeting-house, and preached 
for the Seventh Day Baptists. Returning with Bro. 
S., went with him and preached in the Court House 
at Bridgeton, in the evening. Thus ends the week. 

u August 8 — Lord! s Bay. Preached at Roadstown 
for Bro. Smalley, and in the afternoon at Bridgeton. 



16 JOSEPH H. KENJSTARD, D.D. 

"August 9 — Monday. Rode from Bro. Smalley's to 
Bro. Newcomb's, a distance of twelve miles, and 
preached in his meeting-house at eleven o'clock. It was 
originally his dwelling, but he has given himself and 
it to the Lord, filling it with seats and putting up a 
pulpit. 

"August 14 — Saturday. Rode to Salem, and on 
the next day preached in the morning at eleven 
o'clock, and again in the evening. 

" August 18 — Wednesday. Rode over twenty miles 
to the ferry, and crossing to Newcastle, rode five miles 
more to Wilmington." 

Though every where warmly received, it must be 
admitted that his labors, though exceedingly arduous, 
were attended with but limited pecuniary results. The 
truth is, very little interest had as yet been awakened 
in what is now felt to be the great work of the church ; 
and the public collections taken, and the private con- 
tributions made, show plainly that " the art of giving " 
was not generally understood, and that the churches 
had no proper view of their duty to the great work of 
missions. 

Yet these visits among the churches were the means 
of doing a vast amount of good, and for years the 
happiest spiritual influences followed them. They 
tended also to quicken his zeal, by discovering the 



JOSEPH B. KEWNARD, D.D. 17 

pressing nesd of labor in the wide and whitening fields 
that were every where opening, and thus he was 
roused to feel a more intense desire to devote himself 
wholly to the preaching of the gospel. What he had 
seen did not discourage him, but rather increased his 
ardor, and made him almost impatient to enter upon 
the responsible work to which he had consecrated his 
life. With no selfish or ambitious aims had he taken 
upon him the ministry of the word, but he had cheer- 
fully given himself to the service under a solemn con- 
viction of duty to Grod, and to dying men. The ser- 
vice, he knew, involved great self-denial, and gave no 
promise of earthly rewards ; but, believing himself 
called of God to preach, he felt that he could do no- 
thing else, and, because he would honor Christ to the 
full extent of his ability and opportunities, he cheer- 
fully devoted himself to the gospel ministry. 

Towards the close of 1819, the church in Burling- 
ton, New Jersey, being without a pastor, desired Mr. 
Kennard to supply their pulpit, with a view to a set- 
tlement among them ; and, after some reflection, he 
consented to an arrangement contemplating this re- 
sult. 

Closing his ''itinerant " life, he left Wilmington on 
a little pony, and with whatever he needed for imme- 
diate use packed away in his saddle-bags. A little 

2* 



18 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

trunk, containing all the remainder of his effects, was 
left to be forwarded by public conveyance. This 
trunk was an object of great interest to him to the 
day of his death. It had such a history, that he 
looked upon it both with smiles and tears. And no 
article in the house was regarded by him as so choice 
and sacred. 

One pleasing incident connected with this journey 
he always related with unusual merriment. He bore 
with him a note of introduction to Robert P. Ander- 
son,* of Philadelphia. Arriving at nightfall, he was 
sure of his own lodging, but was in doubt as to what 
might be the fate of his poor pony. And this anxiety 
was the greater from the fact that he could not spare 
, the money necessary to provide usual stable accommo- 
dation. Calling upon Deacon Anderson, however, 
he received a very cordial welcome, when he betrayed 
his concern for his pony, and asked to be excused un- 
til he should put him up. 

"Oh, well, now," said the Deacon, "never mind 
that : he's such a little fellow, we'll just walk him up 
the alley and put him in the wood-shed." 

This offer was gladly accepted, and no " entertain- 
ment for man and beast " was evermore highly appre- 
ciated or more kindly remembered. 

* The father of T. D. Anderson, D.D., of New York. 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 19 

The next day found him pursuing his way with a 
light heart to Burlington — but, seeing a toll-gate in 
the road, he was thrown into a great dilemma, from 
the fact that he was without funds ; and, being an en- 
tire stranger, he had no confidence to ask credit. But 
he must go through, and having a "jack-knife," he 
cheerfully gave it up for toll, and went on with quick- 
ened pace to his "charge." Whenever he spoke of 
this amusing incident in the family, he was accustomed 
to say, in a pleasant way, that it was only a temporary 
embarrassment, assuring us that he was independently 
rich the next week, having received his first install- 
ment for preaching. 

Upon reaching Burlington, he found a comfortable 
"prophets' room" prepared for him at the house of 
Mrs. Mary Cox. Here he met with her who after- 
wards became his wife, and in whom he ever found a 
devoted helpmate in his anxious and arduous labors. 
Here, also, he first met with the Rev. Thos. Winter, 
D.D.^ and for some time they occupied the same 
room. In this way, a friendship, or rather a brotherly 
affection, was formed, which continued to the close of 
life ; and it was regarded by both as a kind Provi- 
dence, which subsequently, and for nearly twenty-five 
years, cast their" lots within six miles of each other ; 
so that they were permitted to enjoy much of each 



20 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 

other's society, and exchange sympathy in each 
other's trials. Very rarely did they meet in later 
years without calling up some of the reminiscences of 
their early days ; and those memories never failed to 
impart a peculiar freshness and buoyancy to all their 
intercourse. 

His labors in Burlington commenced on Lord's 
Day, November 14th, 1819. That some idea may be 
had of his state of mind at this interesting period of 
his life, it will not be amiss to transcribe a few pas- 
sages from his diary. The first entry was made on 
January 1st, 182 0. The whole journal is entitled — 

"SOME ACCOUNT OF A PILGRIM'S WAY THROUGH A LAND 
OF SICKNESS AND DEATH, TO WHERE THE INHAB- 
ITANTS SHALL NOT SAY ' I AM SICK. ' 

"Saturday, January 1, 1820. After supplicating 
the throne, and reading the word of God, in which 
some meltings of heart were felt, entered into a care- 
ful examination of my own soul; and in calling to re- 
membrance the days of the past year and the path of 
my feet, have found abundant cause to cry out, ' God 
be merciful to me, a sinner !' The more carefully I 
looked, the more stumbling-blocks I found, and my 
heart cried within me, 'Redeem the time !' 

"But while I thus mourned over my own way, I 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 21 

felt to rejoice in God because of Ms way ; and the 
more I thought of his mercies, my heart was prepared 
to say, 'How great is his goodness!' Through the 
year, was not confined one day by sickness. Not so 
with my friends. Some with whom I took sweet 
counsel, this day a year ago, are now pilgrims and 
strangers no longer ; they ran well, and have now 
ended the race. They are now fresh in my mind, 
those with whom I prayed when the hour of their de- 
parture was at hand. Yes .! I see the wistful eye, 
and hear the desire to depart. I loved them, and 
with them, mingled tears and prayers. I loved them, 
and shall earnestly remember them, till I see them 
again, which I fully expect. 

"But how shall the question be answered, 'Why 
are they taken and I left ?' ' Tis not that they were 
cumberers of the ground; for they were 'trees of 
righteousness,' — not that they were less fruitful ; for 
they were shocks of corn fully ripe. And now I con- 
sider that I am gazing on 'Israelites indeed, as they 
pass over Jordan, and desire to stand ready for the 
voice that will soon come from the Lord, saying, 
'Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan.' 

" January 2. First Lord's Day of the new year. 
Felt much engaged in prayer to God for his presence 
in his earthly courts ; preached three times, with deep 



22 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

concern for the salvation of the people ; retired to the 
chamber of rest with a heavenly calm of soul, from a 
sense of duty discharged. 

"January 3. Was enabled to come boldly to a 
throne of grace for help ; read in Matthew of the 
transfiguration of Christ. How great the contrast be- 
tween this and his appearance on the Cross ! But oh, 
if on the Mount he was so awfully glorious, what must 
he be in heaven, surrounded with his holy angels ? 
This is known by those who saw him on the Mount, 
and I hope to behold, when the house in which I now 
dwell shall be prostrate in the dust. 

"January 4. Read to-day of the man whose sheep 
had strayed away. Found by the Apostle Peter that 
I was that sheep, and had strayed from the great 
Shepherd — but he, in the greatness of his grace, has 
returned me to his fold. 

"January 7. Felt to pray to my heavenly Father, 
and in some degree enjoyed the smiles of his gracious 
countenance. Met with the friends of Jesus in the 
evening. 

"January 11. After prayer, read the parable of 
the ten virgins. Was led to think what a solemn 
night it must be, when the cry is made, ' Go ye out to 
meet him !' It shall awake all that are in their 
graves and in the depths of the sea. Whether I be in 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 23 

the grave-yard, or among those yet on the earth, I 
too must hear and appear before the Judge of quick 
and dead. But shall I be ready ? ' Search me, 
God, and try me !' 

"January 12. In prayer, this morning, felt but 
little, but begged earnestly for a blessing, and, to my 
joy, found the Lord's ear open to my prayer — 1st Peter 
3: 12. Preached in the evening from the thirteenth 
verse of this chapter — "Who is he that shall harm 
you," etc.; enjoyed some liberty, and hope the Mas- 
ter was present. 

u January 15. The weather cold. Winter hath 
stripped the trees of their foliage ; snow covers the 
face of the earth ; ice reaches from one bank of the 
river to the other, so that its waves no more rise, and 
dash, and die. North winds pour desolation through 
the land. Oh, how much like the heart deprived by 
sin of the Sun of Righteousness becomes — cold and 
barren, stripped at times of almost every evidence of 
a growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus crucified ! 
And that poor, wintry heart is mine. Oh, when shall 
I inhabit that land where winter and clouds are no 
more ? 

"January 18. Experienced some comfort in sing- 
ing before morning prayer, and in prayer enjoyed the 
spirit of adoption, whereby I could say : 



24 JOSEPH 1L KENNARD, D.D. 

May I 'round thee cling and twine, 
Call myself a child of thine, 
And presume to claim a part 
In a tender Father's heart. 

" January 19. Found prayer to be good, and, 
through the day, felt gladness to be sent into my 
heart from on high. 

"January 22. Prayed earnestly for a blessing on 
my studies, as the Sunday was nigh — and, bless the 
Lord, my soul, he sent the timely help from above. 

"April 24, 1820. Church Meeting. Two persons 
related their Christian experience and were accepted. 
To me this was very interesting, because in the hands 
of God, I was the happy means of their conversion. 
This evening received a call from the church without, 
I am told, a dissenting voice.* 

"May 16, 1820. Yisited an old man, who has lain 
down to die. I felt quite overcome on account of 
some circumstances. First, he was a man nearly 
eighty years old. Then, he has spent all these years, 
with the exception of about sixty days, in a most 
awful course of sin. He had been so wicked as almost 
to be a proverb, but now changed as we trust by di- 
vine grace, and rejoicing in a covenant God. This 
was brought about chiefly through the preaching of 

*An interesting coincidence, as it was the anniversary of his birth- 
day. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 25 

the word by the most unworthy of all his servants, as 
a means in the hands of God. 

"May 17. Visited him again. Found him very 
happy and very desirous to depart. Exhorted very 
feelingly his old companions to mark well the change 
and seek God without delay. 

"May 21. Visited Mr. R — — , and found him cold 
in death. 

"Lord's Bay. To an overflowing congregation, 
preached the funeral sermon from Zech. iii. 2: 'Is 
not this a brand plucked out of the fire V 

"January 1, 1821. A glorious train of kind provi- 
dences of God have conducted me through the past, 
and his goodness this day introduced me into a new 
period of time. Oh, sweet remembrance, conduct me 
back and rear to my vision the merits of my God. 
Alas ! my way is compassed with hateful ingratitude. 
Of the time past I am full. Oh, that I could redeem 
it! How-little have I done for God. Lord, thou 
knowest the conflicts of my soul. I would do good, 
but oh, the strength of evil ! Let me rear the cross, 
crucify the world, and from this time — let others do as 
they may desire — give myself to thee, soul, body, and 
spirit. 

"January 30, 1821 — Lord's Day. I did not feel in 
morning prayer to cling and twine, as I have done, 
3 



2(3 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

yet through the day experienced liberty in preaching, 
in the evening in particular from John vi. 44. 
Lord, own and bless the labors of the most weak and 
unworthy of all thou hast put in the ministry. Draw 
souls by thy Spirit to Jesus in multitudes. 

"February b. Some comfort in prayer, close ap- 
plication to study, and a mind open to receive know- 
ledge from the word of God. Spent the evening with 
pious friends in conversation, singing, and prayer. 

"February 8. Stormy. A great sleet, so that 
large limbs of trees are continually falling, though 
but very little wind. Something very awful in the 
continual crashing of the trees in every direction, with 
the darkness and gloom. Such a day as this the 
oldest persons living cannot remember. But what is 
this, when I think of that great and notable day of 
the Lord, and the crashing of the great frame of 
nature ? 

"February 10. But very little heavenly-minded- 
*ness, yet some comfort in calling on God. This day 
a great snow fell ; how white and overpowering to the 
sight ; yet there is one thing that exceeds it — the soul 
washed in the blood of Christ. Wash me, and I shall 
be whiter than snow. Had some manifestations of a 
Saviour's regard, particularly at the evening meeting, 
where the Lord was evidently present. 



JOSEPH II. KE AWARD, D.J). 27 

" February 16. The ice-bound river is now be- 
coming loose ; the chains that reached from shore to 
shore are broken in the middle. Oh, that the more 
cold and unrelenting fetters of my heart might break 
asunder ! Shine, thou Sun of Righteousness; let thy 
rays dissolve them. 

"February VI. Labored under a mind much op- 
pressed. Feel the body to be a great burden, and yet 
hardly willing to have it laid aside. 0, Lord, meeten 
me for thy heavenly kingdom, that I may be ready to 
live or die. Evening spent with pious friends. 

"February 20. Lord's Bay. Some liberty in 
preaching in the morning, but much more in the 
afternoon and evening. A glorious season to my 
own soul. Texts, John v. 1 to 9. Psalm lxxxiv. 11. 
Gal. vi. 14. 

"March 1. And now the winter is over and passed, 
the flowers will soon appear on the earth. Blessed 
Saviour, bring with this a joyful, blessed spiritual 
spring to my soul. How much reason have I to mourn 
over an unfruitful heart ! 

"May 9. The evening of this day, had a remark- 
able sense of the goodness of God, while supplicating 
his throne, especially from the consideration that with 
him there is forgiveness. My sins I considered so 
many that no man could number them. All against 



28 JOSEPH H. KENNAR1), U.l). 

God, and I cut off from the possibility of appeasing or 
satisfying for one of all the vast multitude by the 
works of my hands or the torments of my body. 
Wherewithal, then, shall I come before the Lord ? 
Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the sacri- 
fice ? God will, yes, he has provided a Lamb. Christ, 
our passover, is slain; therefore will I keep it and be 
glad. 

"May 15. On retiring to bed, I repeated with 
great joy, 'The Lord is my shepherd.' 

"June 12. A day spent chiefly in visiting the 
flock, and endeavoring to stir up their minds. 

"June 14. A day of great insensibility and bar- 
renness of mind till evening, when I found much 
liberty in speaking from the latter part of Esther iv. 
16 : 'And so will I go in unto the King, . . . and if 
I perish I perish!' This shows the folly of making 
my feelings a rule to go by. 

"June 29. In the evening of this day, Brother 
Green preached from Psalm lxxxiv. 11. This con- 
tains enough matter to employ a man in preaching a 
lifetime. Friday morning meeting for prayer, Mr. 
Griffin gave a very remarkable exhortation ; Brother 
Allison not able to attend. Mr. McLaughlin— have no 
word from, which makes it unpleasant to me. How- 
ever, the day having come, the ordination went on 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 29 

with great solemnity. Brother Griffin preached from 
the text, 'Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee,' 
etc. Brother Green presented the Bible, with affec- 
tionate advice. Brother Griffin gave the charge. He 
also preached in the evening, and Brother Green on 
Saturday evening and Lord's Day. The services, 
from the beginning, were solemn and affecting. And 
now, God, crown them with thy blessing ! Prayer- 
meeting on Monday evening was full and solemn. 
This day six years ago, when about sixteen years old, 
I publicly put on Christ and began to publish the 
loving-kindness of the Lord to sinners ; but oh, what 
an unprofitable servant I have been ! 

" August, 1821. Here let me record that for nearly 
two hours last Saturday morning my soul appeared to 
have as much of the presence of religion, or joy of 
salvation, as it could contain. It was begun by read- 
ing an account of the trials of the blessed Roger Wil- 
liams, and carried on by reading in the Revelation, 
particularly the first chapter, see v. 9, 17, 18. 

"Second Lord's Day, August. Communion at 
Mount Holly, where for the first time I had the 
honor to bury two in baptism, who professed to be 
dead to sin. It was a solemn and interesting season. 
Some of my friends were apprehensive I would not be 



30 JOSEPH H KENJSFARD, D.D. 

able, but through him who strengthens me, I can do 
all things. 

"Monday, December 3, 1821. The past Lord's 
Day a very comfortable time to myself and others. 
Baptized early in the morning ; rode to Mount Holly; 
preached; came back to Burlington; preached; at- 
tended on the Supper ; and preached again in the 
evening." 

Shortly after settling in Burlington, he received an 
urgent invitation to supply the church at Mount Holly 
one-half of each Lord's Day. It was accepted, and, 
for three months, he served both churches. The dou- 
ble duty, however, proving too much for his strength, 
the arrangement was discontinued, and his whole time 
again devoted to Burlington ; and there his earnest 
labors were abundantly blessed, not only in the edifi- 
cation of saints, but in the conversion of sinners. 

On the 15th of November, 1821, a unanimous call 
was given him to the pastorate of the second Hopewell 
Church; upon the reception of which, he made the 
following excessively modest entry in his diary : 

" Oh, w T hat could have led them to call one so un- 
worthy of the place ! Lord, send me not up thither, 
except thy presence go with me." 

How he was exercised while considering this invita- 



JOSEPH 11. KENNARD, D.D. 31 

tion, an extract from a letter written at this time to 
his intimate friend, Rev. Thomas Winter, will show : 

"The idea of leaving my affectionate friends is very 
painful, and has already suffused my eyes with many 
tears. But this is a small matter compared with a 
just review of my doctrine, my manner of life, etc. 
How- have I preached Jesus ? How contended for the 
faith once delivered to the saints ? Have I been 
ashamed of the testimony of Christ ? Have I, for the 
gain of praise, or to shun a frown, kept any thing 
back from the people ? And what has been my man- 
ner of life ? Have I walked wisely toward them who 
are without, and constrained any to glorify my 
heavenly Father ? Finally, am I ready to leave my 
charge in Burlington ? Am I clear of every man's 
blood ? Oh, my brother, my dear brother, this is a 
serious review for me !" 

After much reflection and prayer, the call from 
Hopewell was accepted, and early in January, 1822, 
he entered upon his new charge, where, for nearly two 
years, he continued to labor among a united and happy 
people with abundant proof of divine favor upon his 
ministrations. 

Shortly after this change in his church relations, 
occurred a yet more important one as affecting his 
personal and domestic life. In leaving Burlington he 



32 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

found he had left his heart there ; and, in order to 
make the removal more complete, and permanent, and 
comfortable, arrangements were effected to consum- 
mate a marriage with Miss Beulah E. Cox, the young 
ladj of his choice, and whom he had recognized as 
his " destiny" almost upon first sight. As the wed- 
ding day drew nigh, he wrote an appropriate letter to 
his betrothed, and from the following extracts, we 
may see how sober and religious were his views of 
the relation upon which they were waiting to 
enter. 

"In the night of time we tread a tiresome way, but 
join me to bless the Lord for a light to our feet ; and 
in this we fully expect to go hand in hand. There- 
fore we shall stand witnesses of each other's joys and 
tribulations : for this I am glad. * * * We have 
mountains on either hand in thus uniting : on yours, 
it will be in the midst of the tears of your mother, and 
on mine, a struggle with poverty ; but fear not, God 
is for us. * * * I trust I shall come up on Lord's 
Day, though I am not certain. If I do not, I will 
write you. Farewell, my dear, till I hear from or 
embrace you. Pray often for me. Think of me. 
The Lord bless you." 

The marriage took place under circumstances some- 



JOSEPH 11. KENXARD, D.D. 38 

what peculiar. The day appointed, June. 27, 1822, 
having come, they left Burlington at an early hour in 
the morning and reached New Brunswick in the after- 
noon, where they were united by the Rev. Daniel 
Dodge, and immediately left for Lyon's Farms, where 
they arrived in the evening of the same day, and were 
cordially received by Rev. Thomas Winter and wife, 
as "Mr. and Mrs. Kennard." Here they remained 
for a few days, and then returned to Burlington. 

There were two reasons for making this trip : one 
was a desire to have the Rev. Mr. Dodge perform the 
ceremony, and the other, the fact that Mrs. Cox being 
a Quakeress, it would have been deemed by "Friends" 
a breach of order for the mother to have openly sanc- 
tioned the marriage of the daughter "out of meeting." 
And so, though her full consent had been given to the 
union, it was deemed prudent on the whole, to avoid 
censure, by changing the scene of the drama to a dis- 
tant place. 

The happy results of this marriage made the lives 
of both an experience of tenderest affection, and the 
ministries of home, together with the prudence and 
sound judgment of the loving wife, contributed not a 
little to the remarkable efficiency of all the husband's 
pulpit and public labors. This may not appear con- 



34 JOSEPH H. KENNARD] D.I). 

spicuously in these pages, and yet it must be acknow- 
ledged as having had very much to do in making the 
character they are intended to sketch, and, without 
them, the key would be wanting to a life of rarest 
purity, and piety, and power. 






JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 35 



CHAPTER II. 

SOWING AND REAPING, 




IVERY man's life is a plan of God. He may 
cast himself by Lis willfulness out of that 
plan, and thereby become a failure ; the very 
elements that should have borne him with beneficent 
ministries to his goal becoming his enemies, and hurl- 
ing him on the rocks. If, on the other hand, he cast 
himself with a courageous docility upon the current of 
the Divine influences, his career will receive a unity, 
harmony, and success, which will elevate it into a living 
fact in the history of Christ's kingdom. Never am- 
bitious for conspicuous position, and always distrust- 
ing his own abilities, Mr. Kennard would have fol- 
lowed his own inclinations, had he settled down in the 
village church at Hopewell, where he was greatly be- 
loved and happy. But he who leads his servants by 
k way they know not, designed him for a vastly greater 
work than he could there accomplish. 

This seems to have been his purpose in directing 



36 JOSEPH II KE1V1YARD, D.D. 

the events which led to his removal to Blockley, in 
the suburbs of Philadelphia; for, from the time of his 
settlement there until his life's work was done, he 
ever seemed to be ploughing and sowing larger fields, 
and gathering more abundant harvests. 

Indeed, so rapidly did these labors of the spiritual 
husbandman succeed and even mingle with each 
other in his ministry, that the prophecy was strikingly 
fulfilled : " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 
that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the 
treader of grapes him that planteth the seed." 

This change is thus noticed in our mother's diary : 

"About this time (October 10th, 1823) the Blockley 
Church gave him a unanimous call to become their 
pastor ; and with a view to a more extended field of 
usefulness, he left a church perfectly united in him. 

" They had been nine months without a pastor, and 
every thing looked desolate. It seemed a doubtful 
duty. * * * But if it was right to go to the most 
needy, then he did his duty, and the Lord abundantly 
blessed him. The house filled to overflowing. The 
members were revived in their graces, and the bap- 
tisms were frequent. In the summer season, when the 
windows were opened, carriages would be seen all 
around the house, filled with anxious listeners, who 
could hear his clear voice with ease." 

In his own journal he records : 



JOSEPH II KENNARB, B.B. 37 

" October 1, 1823. Entered on the solemn duties 
of pastor of the church in Blockley. 

u November. A precious season — one convert bap- 
tized — congregation large — my own soul full of com- 
fort. Feel great longing for the souls of men. 

"December 31. An evening long to be remem- 
bered. Met at the Academy. Sermon preached, 
many prayers offered, and several exhortations, which 
brought us within a few minutes of the close of the 
year. A part of this expiring period was appropriated 
to sitting in silence. A more affecting silence I never 
witnessed, Then, finally, we entered the new year by 
prayer. To this hour there was no idolatrous atten- 
tion paid, but a wise and blessed improvement 
made. 

" January 1, 1824. A new period of my short ex- 
istence. I feel the effect of last evening's meeting, 
both in body and soul. Having stood on my feet four 
hours, preaching, praying, and exhorting, I have some 
fever, and some pain in my breast ; but my soul is 
happy to hear good was done. 

" Saturday, January 3. Preached seven times this 
week — and the field is so large, so great the appear- 
ance of a revival at this time, the harvest so near, 
that, if my flesh would bear it, I might preach much 
oftener to large assemblies. 
4 



38 JOSEPH H. KENKARD, D.D. 

" Fourth Lord's Bay in January. A glorious sea- 
son of refreshing; three persons baptized; congrega- 
tions full to overflowing. 

"First Lord's Bay in February. Second time in 
more than six years that I've been laid bj from 
preaching by indisposition, — a burning fever, and pain 
in my breast. 

"Second Lord's Bay in February. A new song of 
praise; for the Lord hath so far restored my health, 
that I have been able to preach twice to-day. Oh, it 
is my delight ! 

" Fifth Lord's Bay in February. Baptized two per- 
sons — one had been a very great sinner. 

"Fourth Lord's Bay in March. Baptized four per- 
son's ; meeting very solemn. Blessed .be the name of 
the Lord ! 

"Third Lord's Bay in June. Preached three times 
in the New Market Street Church. In the afternoon 
and evening had very large congregations. One came 
to me after meeting, crying for mercy. 

"Fourth Lord's Bay in July. Communion. Had 
the happiness to welcome my dear wife (after baptism) 
to the table. Blessed be the Lord, who strengthened 
her to do his commandments. 

"December 7. Ministers' meeting. Rev. Eustace 
Carey, missionary from Calcutta, present. The meet- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 39 

ing was a very pleasant one. Oh, how good it is for 
brethren to dwell together in unity ! Next Question : 
'The Advantage of a State Convention.' Sermon to 
be preached by myself. How unworthy I feel ! Lord, 
be thou my helper. Our meetings are very much 
crowded at Blockley. May the blessed Lord revive 
his work. 

"Fourth Lord's Day in December. One baptized ; 
the Lord's work reviving; my labors increasing be- 
yond my strength ; preaching from seven to nine times 
a week, besides my other duties.. 

"Fourth Lord's Day in January, 1825. A day of 
much comfort to myself and others. Five were bap- 
tized ; all but one, heads of families. Preached on 
communion; endeavored to show why we commune 
alone at the Lord's table, as a denomination. The 
effect was good, in that it satisfied members that had 
been wavering, and convinced others. 

" January 7. Meeting of ministers held at my 
house; very large. Brother J. L. Dagg preached an 
excellent sermon. In the remarks made afterwards, 
the admirers of Fuller and Grill seemed to clash a lit- 
tle. God forbid that this matter should grow to sepa- 
rate brethren." 



On the first Thursday of April, he records the 



or 



40 JOSEPH 11 KENXARD, D.D. 

gin of a new Society in Philadelphia for aiding the 
work of missions on the foreign field : 

"Agreeably to previous notice, we met this evening, 
in Sansom Street Church, to organize another Foreign 
Missionary Society. Several addresses Were delivered, 
and the services were animated by the intelligence 
that the missionaries at Ava are yet alive! And is 
Judson yet alive ? Oh, what grace ! May it please 
their Preserver to prosper that work! Surely, the 
Lord reigneth, and blessed be our Rock ! 

"December 31. Twelve o'clock at night, — in prayer 
to God and solemn covenant, exchanged year for year. 
Oh, that grace may be given to fulfil the purpose of my 
soul to be the Lord's ! A survey of the past year af- 
flicts my mind. Oh, fruitless tree ! Oh, unprofitable 
servant ! Blessed Lord, spare me, that I may re- 
deem the time, and henceforth glorify thee in my 
body and spirit, which are thine ! I desire to bless 
the Lord for the success which has been given ; but 
Lord, increase it ! For the glory of thy name, for 
the good of immortal souls, and the encouragement of 
thy poor servant, revive thy work !" 

These aspirations for enlarged usefulness and suc- 
cess did not evaporate in the ejaculations which his 
closet witnessed with the closing and the opening year. 



JOSEPH II KEXKARD, D.I). 41 

He immediately entered on the work of answering his 
own prayers in filial dependence upon divine aid. He 
called his brethren together in conference on the 
spiritual state of the church, and the need of en- 
larging their work for the conversion of the outlying 
population in the adjacent villages. In that day there 
were sparsely-settled neighborhoods where now the 
city extends its corporate limits ; and a dense manu- 
facturing population on the one hand, and miles of 
elegant country-seats on the other, occupy the ground 
where the occasional cottage and farm-house then were 
found. The Blockley Church was then required to 
supply a field where now four churches maintain the 
worship of God. 

How he proposed to cover this field with the 
Church's evangelical work is indicated in his diary : 

"On the second Lord's Day in February, 1826, 
submitted to the consideration of the church the 
utility of frequent meetings among the brethren for 
pious conversation, prayer, and effort. It being ap- 
proved of, a list of members residing in the bounds of 
the church was read, and the whole number was re- 
solved into five divisions for the different districts, as 
follows : Kingsessing, Hamiltonville, Haddington, 
Falls of Schuylkill, and Monroeville. 



42 JO SEFII 11. KENNA N D, I). D. 

u Fourth LoroVs Day, February. A meeting was 

held at Monroeville with Brother C . Several 

persons of other societies present, and some persons, 
who we hope are seeking the Lord. A precious meet- 
ing. The Hamiltonville district held its meetings at 

Brother E s, Friday evening before the second 

Lord's Day in March. Brethren and sisters present 
seemed to feel a desire to live to greater purpose. 
Saturday evening, March — , Haddington district held 

its meeting at Brother McN s. The service was 

very edifying. Lord, send prosperity to the church." 

These services continued for some time, with the 
happy effect of leavening the neighborhood with evan- 
gelical influences. The vine, thus growing over the 
wall, hung its purple clusters where those that were 
"without" could refresh their hunger; while an in- 
crease of strength at home was at the same time an 
inevitable result. 

This was a time of abounding labor. 

"I have been much engaged," he writes to an inti- 
mate friend, "preaching from six to nine times during 
the week, and I find more opportunities than I have 
strength to fulfil." 

In this same letter he speaks of preaching a sermon 
at the ministers' meeting, from 1 Cor. i. 18, and 



JOSEPH II. KENNARD, D.D. 43 

naively says, "I found some difficulty in getting 
through. The excellent Mr. Carey was put in the 
chair ; when they began smiting me* till I was quite 
sore. However, it did not break my head, but will 
be like oil. The remarks of Brothers Carey, Ballen- 
tyne and D. Jones were very instructive." 

About the same time he writes : 

"Our meetings are frequent, large, and solemn. 
Last Lord's Day evening, the members stopped after 
meeting and freely related the dealings of God with 
their souls. Oh, my brother, it was a most affecting 
time ! On Monday evening we had a meeting to con- 
verse with such as were seeking Jesus. Ten persons 
gave a relation of what they had experienced. This 
seems to be the Lord's doings, which, while I survey, 
I greatly wonder that he should employ an instrument 
so weak. Yet my wonder is converted into praise 
when I remember that it is written, 'Not by might, nor 
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' 
These circumstances have considerably affected my own 
heart, and make me feel more solemn and more fer- 
vent? in the work of the Lord." 

Again, a few months after: "I rejoice to hear of 

the revival at Scotch Plains. Dear Brother B , 

how much he will rejoice ! How loud he will sing /f 

* The sermon was preached for criticism. 

■j" Referring to the brother's well-known enthusiasm in music. 



44 JOSEPH II KENNAED, D.I). 

When you see him, remember me to him. I rejoice 
also to hear that you have troubled the waters of bap- 
tism. The Lord succeed your labors with a blessing. 
I think my desire to serve the Lord is greater now 
than ever before ; but I am not fit ; I am too unholy. 
Lord, sanctify me through thy truth !" 

While seeking thus to develop the working power of 
his Church, and enjoying repeated tokens of the di- 
vine favor, an event occurred which in great measure 
changed his plans and led him forth into a still larger 
work. 

The religious destitution of the State was pressed 
upon his attention in such a manner that he could not 
rest. Says Dr. Jewell, in a sketch of his ministry, 
written in 1842: "At the meeting of the Philadelphia 
Association in October, 1827, in connection with 
several kindred spirits, he called the attention of his 
brethren to this subject, and with great earnestness 
advocated their occupancy of this missionary field. 
The result of these efforts was the appointment of a 
committee to take into consideration the feasibility of 
supplying the destitute regions of the State with the 
gospel, and adopt those measures which would be best 
calculated to promote the object." 

In his own journal he writes : 

" Second Wednesday in March. Committee of the 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D I). 45 

Missionary Association met at Brother H s, and, 

agreeably to a former resolution, went into the busi- 
ness of appointing an agent, when it appeared that I 
was the person in view, though quite unexpected to 
me. ... It being insisted on, I referred it to the 
church. May the will of the Lord be done !" 

Consent was obtained from the church for a six- 
weeks' tour ; but as the work grew upon his hands, he 
found it necessary to make frequent excursions for a 
week at a time, endeavoring to return by Saturday 
night to fill his pulpit on the Lord's Day. 

In these missionary tours he would hasten like a 
burning torch from place to place, calling meetings, 
speaking every evening, visiting the churches of the 
Philadelphia Association, and others at remote points, 
seeking to kindle by his own zeal a warmer interest 
for the neglected regions. Of the amount of labor 
performed, Ave may gain a hint from his journal. 

"April 27, 1827. One year has passed since I 
commenced my tour. Oh, blessed be the Lord, the 
labor has not been in vain. Six auxiliary societies 
have been formed; the missionary spirit much in- 
creased; in one destitute place religion revived, souls 
converted, and a church formed." 

Further reference to this work will be made in the 
chapter on his public relations. 



46 JOSEPH II KEXNARD, D.U. 

His mission this year was not without its trials and 
joys, as his journal indicates. 

" Friday ; September 1, 1827. Left home for Easton. 
From several causes, my heart was filled with sadness ; 
my fellow passengers were all strangers to me, which 
I did not regret, as I desired to sit in silence and 
muse on painful circumstances. The country, on 
every hand, is beautiful. The scenery near Brother 

M s is very fine ; had I only my dear companion 

or one dear friend with me, how pleasant it would be ; 
but how unlike rejoicing nature is my desolate spirit. 
Arrived at Brother Mathias' at eleven o'clock; met 
with a very kind reception, but am much indisposed; 
had a slight chill, which makes me feel unpleasant in 
view of pursuing my journey to Easton, where I must 
be among strangers ; but the distress of my body and 
prospect of death is nothing compared to the distress 
of my mind. Mrs. M. asked me to-night if I ever 
had trials in my mind. I spoke freely of my gloomy 
state, perhaps too freely, but it was a present relief. 
Now will I retire to rest. Lord Jesus, be gracious to 
my dear companion, my children, and my dear friends, 
who are present with me in heart ; remember the 
church for which I have suffered so much in my 
spirit within one week. Oh, revive thy work. 

" Saturday morning. Rose at six o'clock. Health 



JOSEPH II KENNARD. D.D. 47 

bad this morning. Whether to go to Easton or remain 
here till Brother M. returns, is a question I find hard 
to decide, for, to ride through a German settlement 
thirty miles, sick as I am, and prospect of rain, dis- 
courages me; yet I desire to go, and many will be 
disappointed if I go not. Lord, direct me. At seven 
and a half o'clock left Brother M- — — s for Easton. 
After travelling about seven miles, I thought I must 
give up and return, but I persevered and in much 
weakness reached Easton without dinner. Was taken 

to a Mrs. 's, and went to bed. Oh, if my 

dearest were present to minister to me, how different 
I should feel. My lodgings are very uncomfortable, 
and were it not for wounding feelings, I would go to a 
public house. I cannot eat while here, I am sure. 
Yet why complain ? My Master had not where to lay 
his sacred head. In about two days I shall leave. 
At five o'clock called to tea, but as I expected when I 

first saw Mrs. and the condition of the house, 

I could not eat. I trust she is a good Christian, but 
am sure she is a miserable housekeeper. 

"Lord's Day morning rose early and bowed in prayer 
to him who on the first day of the week rose from the 
bed of death for me. Yes, he was dead but is alive 
again, and liveth forevermore. Alas, how little do 
I feel the power of his resurrection, or the fellowship 



48 JOSEPH II KENNARB, D.D. 

of his sufferings ! How little am I conformed to his 
death ! Phil, iii, 10. No appetite for my breakfast, 
nor did I expect to eat. I was requested to speak at 
the water, but refused, as my health did not justify it. 
Baptized at nine o'clock at a romantic spot on the 
Delaware. Many were present. At ten o'clock I 
preached in the Court House to a large and weeping 
assembly, but owing to weakness from disease and 
w T ant of suitable food, I was much, overcome, and with 

difficulty reached Mr. R s ; but the moment I en 

tered, I saw I was in a very different place from 
where I had stayed, and that Mrs. R. was a house- 
keeper. For the first time I could eat with comfort. 

Farewell to Sister ■ . While I stay at Easton I 

will not leave my new home. While at dinner word 
came that the people wished to hear "the little man" 
in the afternoon, but I plead sickness and requested 
to retire. Sister R. showed me a clean and comforta- 
ble bed, and then kindly asked me what she could do 
for me. Such were my feelings, that had it been pru- 
dent I could have kissed her hand with tears of grati- 
tude. Meeting at three o'clock at Mrs. R s house, 

which is large. Mr. R. came up and entreated I 
would preach, though there were two other preachers 
besides himself. I got up and went down, thinking 
'what would DK J. say to me, were he here,' but I 









JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 49 

could not refuse. Preached from Psalm lxvi. 16, 
Come and hear, etc., — a most solemn time; — hardly 
one in the house that did not weep ; Mr. R. and one 
lady wept aloud. Preaching ended, I went to bed 
again, leaving them to attend to the communion. An 
appointment has been made for me at South Easton 
this evening, but I cannot, must not, will not go. 
Nine o'clock. Alone in my room. Oh, that my be- 
loved were here to cheer the lonely moments as they 
pass. Lord, regard my dear wife and children ; re- 
turn me to them in saf ty. 

" Monday morning, rose early; felt some yielding in 
prayer. Saviour, melt, melt this frozen heart. At 
eight o'clock bade farewell to Easton friends. After 
travelling about ten miles down the Delaware, surround- 
ed by changing scenery and very beautiful, Brother M. 
pointed to a hill near by, and said, ' There is the Dur- 
ham Cave.' My romantic mind caught at the word, and . 
I said: 'We will stop and explore it,' We' obtained 
a guide, and with lighted candles entered by a large 
opening, say sixty feet in width by thirty feet in height, 
and at an elevation above the river of one hundred feet. 
There was a flock of sheep sheltering themselves from 
the sun, about fifty feet in. Above, and on either 
side, were massive rocks. At the end of our dark 
journey was a lovely spring of water, which we could 
5 



50 JOSEPH II. KENNARB, B.B. 

discern only by our candles. It was said to be very 
deep. The length of the cave is about three hundred 
feet. Half-way there is a branch, called 'The 
Chamber,' eighty feet long. I felt a gloomy pleasure 
while I thought of David in the cave of Adullam, and 
of the saints of old, who dwelt in caves and dens of the 
earth." 

We find him closing this year with a special season 
of devotion with his church on the last night of De- 
cember ; entering the new year in silent prayer and 
with fervent desires for greater earnestness of purpose 
and larger fruits. 

He writes, " February 8. I am a professed disciple 
of Christ. Let me, therefore, live unto God ! I am 
a minister. Oh, that I may make full proof of my 
ministry ! I am a pastor. Oh, that I may have 
grace to fit me to take the oversight of the flock, that 
I may feed the sheep and the" lambs ! I am agent for 
the mission. The Lord give me wisdom to plan, and 
zeal to carry into effect, all useful plans, and thus 
promote the best of all causes ! 

" Thursday evening, Feby. 14fA, 1828. My dear 
brother Samuel died 27 years 2 months and 3 days 
old. He was truly pious as a Christian and popular 
as a minister. He preached about seven years, and 
near seven hundred were converted under his preach- 
ing. He died saying ' Come, Lord Jesus !' 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, B.J). 51 

" April 24:th. We have recently had reason to be- 
lieve that the Lord is about to revive his work. I 
have felt, since my brother's death, to be much en- 
gaged in the work of the ministry. Oh, may I live as he 
lived, and die as he died ! Our prayer-meetings are 
very large and solemn, many are seeking the Lord. 
This day eight persons have been examined for bap- 
tism, — 

'Hail, mighty Jesus, how divine 
Is thy victorious swoi'd!' " 

With reference to his work as General Agent for 
the State Missionary Association we transcribe from 
Mrs. Kennard's journal. 

"While serving the society gratuitously, spending 
considerable time in travelling, and conducting the cor- 
respondence with those in the field, his house was open 
at all times as a home to missionaries when passing 
that way. The weary were refreshed, and the sick 
nursed. The Convention, increasing in strength, felt 
the importance of having more of his time, and offered 
to the church to pay a young minister for one year to 
supply his place when absent, and help him when at 
home. But they would not be satisfied with any sup- 
ply obtained; and after a winter spent in overtasking 
himself, endeavoring to do his duty to the society, and 
gratify the people with his presence on the Lord's Day 



52 JOSEPH B. KENNARD, D.D 



to the injury of his health, he determined to resign the 
church and accept the agency. 

"This step involved the sundering of the dearest 
ties. He had labored among them for nearly eight 
years with signal success ; and to leave them was a 
trial costing him a painful struggle. But the path of 
duty seemed to be made plain, and his resignation 
was the result." 

The acceptance of the letter of resignation was a 
more difficult thing than its presentation. Not a per- 
son, at first, could be induced to move its acceptance. 
The people, bathed in tears, protested against it; and 
only on the most earnest and affectionate declaration 
of their pastor, that the necessities of the state were 
imperative, could a few votes be got to release him. 

He now threw all his energies into the missionary 
work ; at one time visiting the churches to enlist their 
co-operation, and gather funds; then going forth into 
the destitute regions, gathering together the scattered 
families of the Baptist flock, organizing churches, and 
then searching out missionaries to minister to them 
the preached word. 

Sometimes he met with decided opposition from the 
enemies of the Baptist faith; but this only aroused 
him to a firmer resolution to press the work. But, 
alas ! in less than one year his health was so impaired 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 53 



by his excessive labors, that he was obliged to relin- 
quish this cherished and most important work. 

"Almost immediately upon learning his decision" 
— says Mrs. Kennard's diary — "a unanimous call was 
given him to the Pastorate of the New Market Street, 
now Fourth Church of Philadelphia." 

He had scarcely begun to recuperate his exhausted 
strength when he was called upon to decide this new 
and important question. The New Market Street 
Church was then in an unpromising state. It had 
passed through afflictions of so disheartening a char- 
acter, that it was a very delicate and difficult thing 
for any man, and especially a young man, to take the 
position of pastor. 

After a season of anxious deliberation, the predom- 
inant idea of his ministry, to go where most needed, 
triumphed, and with an humble faith in the great 
Head of the church, he entered upon his work, in 
January, 1832. 

The settlement of Mr. Kennard was a new era in 
the history of that church. Order was brought out 
of confusion; discipline was enforced; empty pews 
were filled; and soon the Spirit was poured forth, and 
sinners began to flock to the meetings, and converts 
to the waters of baptism. Revival followed revival, 
until the meeting-house became quite too small for the 

5* 



54 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, DD. 

numbers that hung upon his preaching. We regret 
that Mr. Kennard did not leave some history of the 
interesting events within this period of six years. 

From the time he entered Philadelphia, his labors 
were so incessant, that except a noting of engagements, 
with here and there a passing incident, no record was 
kept. Much of his valuable experience is thus irre- 
vocably lost. A few way-marks from his diaries will 
indicate some of his plans and labors. 

" January 31st, 1835. The first month of the new 
year closes with this day. When the month began, I 
was oppressed with cares and anxieties in relation to 
my diversified duties, and enjoyed but little peace of 
mind. The church, now numbering more than five 
hundred, is a solemn charge for one so weak in body 
and lean in spirit as myself. 

"February 2. Examination of candidates. Eight 
persons received. 

" February 4. Commenced a course of Bible class 
instruction as a church. 

" February 5. Attended a protracted meeting at 
Burlington, at which place fifteen years ago, I was or- 
dained as pastor. Preached in the afternoon and 
evening. Beturned on Friday, expecting to baptize 
the next morning; but in Providence we were pre- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 55 

vented in consequence of the lowness of the tide and 
the great mass of ice. 

"February 9. Female Burman Education Society 
met at our place of worship. Brother J. M. Linnard 
presided; Brother A. D. Gillette and myself spoke 
on the occasion. After this I attended a meeting of 
the Education Board of Haddington Institute, and 
church -meeting in the evening ; Bible Class on Fri- 
day night ; Anxious Meeting on Saturday night. 

"March, 1835. Second Lord's Day — preached on 
Baptism ; at 2 o'clock baptized ten willing converts in 
the Spruce Street Church, owing to the difficulty of the 
ice and low tide at our usual place." 

Dr. Gillette, being on a visit to Philadelphia, in 
January of this same year, says, " At 2 P. M., I met 
your father and hundreds of his beloved flock on the 
banks of the Delaware, and at his request he being ill, 
I buried in baptism fourteen rejoicing disciples, won 
to Christ by his instrumentality. The thermometer 
was below zero. Ice formed rapidly around me, and 
our robes were quickly frozen to stiffness. Your 
father, sitting in a carriage near by, cheered us with 
his benignant smiles ; and blessed the Lord for what 
his glad eyes beheld as the fruit of his ardent toils." 

Another incident related by Dr. Gillette, is worthy 
of record as perfectly characteristic of the pastor's sym- 



56 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

pathy for young ministers. " On Saturday, Dec. 21st, 
1834, 1 met your beloved father in the book-store, and 
he engaged me to preach for him on the afternoon of 
the ensuing Sunday in the New Market street church," 
— Dr. Gillette was then seeking help for his church in 
Schenectady, 1ST. Y. — " I dined with Dr. J., and went 
with him to your father's pulpit. The house was 
crowded with an eager-looking audience to whom I 
preached from Job 14 : 14, l If a man die shall he live 
again V 

" Your father arose and with deepest feeling — with 
which you know he always glowed — said : ' Brethren, 
the young brother who has addressed you represents a 
poor people, at the seat of Union College. He has 
not asked aid of me for them, and I will not; but I 
will hold out my hand ; it is small, and you can easily 
fill it; and what you put into it, I will give him for his 
people. I have been happy under his sermon. I 
have but little money ; but I would willingly give 
every thing I have to go to that heaven of which he 
has been speaking.' Twenty-five dollars came from 
that ever generous hand, as unlooked for by me as if 
it had descended from the hand of the Lord." 

In a review of the six busy and blessed years he 
spent with that church, he says: 

"In answer to our united prayers, the Lord sent us 



JOSEPH B. KENNARD, D.D. 57 

such prosperity as few of his churches have known in 
the same period of time. Pecuniary embarrassments 
have diminished; additions to the church, by letter 
and baptism, have exceeded four hundred souls ; while 
the congregation, which at first was small, has in- 
creased, until we frequently have not room to contain 
the people who desire to gain admittance. For all 
this prosperity, give God the glory. He that planteth 
is nothing — neither he that watereth." 

When we remember that he began this pastorate 
with a body weakened by his abounding missionary 
toils, and that frequently through these years, with a 
soul that could not endure inaction, he dragged to the 
pulpit and prayer-room an aching head and fevered 
frame, when he might well have been in bed; and to 
all the protestations of physicians and friends, replied, 
" The King's business requireth haste;" and yet that 
at the end of six years' incessant work he came out 
stronger in body and spirit than ever, we must bear 
record that God rewarded in a signal manner his ser- 
vant's heroic faith, when he entered the field with the 
cry, " I will go in the strength of the Lord God. I 
will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine 
only!" 

But great as was the prosperity within the bounds 
of his church, the missionary spirit that ever burned 



58 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.J). 

within him, joined to the desire to develope the ag- 
gressive power of the church, led him to enlarge the 
field of his operations, and thus was initiated a move- 
ment which led to the 

ORIGIN OF THE TENTH CHURCH. 

Of the steps which led to this enterprise he speaks 
in a statement made to the mother church : 

" Shortly after I became your pastor, and in the 
midst of the outpouring of the Spirit from on high, I 
recommended an extension of your influence on the 
surrounding community by establishing meetings for 
preaching, exhortation and prayer. 

" The suggestion was unanimously approved, and 
the work commenced in various places in the vicinity 
of the church. The last of these places, though not 
the least important, was the district of Spring Gar- 
den. There was a conviction that a church would 
soon arise, but how soon, none could say ; nor did it 
seem so necessary, so that the glory of God and the 
salvation of men could be advanced by those who felt 
a desire to labor in that section." 

Mrs. Kennard's diary continues the narrative. 

"A Sunday School was first established at the cor- 
ner of Sixth and Coates street, in October, 1837. 
Soon it was moved to the 'Academy,' Eighth and But- 
tonwood, where prayer-meetings were held every 



JOSEPH E KENNARD, D.D. 59 

Thursday evening. The mission greatly prospered, 
and the field for usefulness was very inviting. They 
were in the midst of a rapidly increasing population, 
disposed to attend upon the services. 

"It soon became evident, that to work with effi- 
ciency, a colony must separate itself from the church, 
and be constituted an independent body. But, not- 
withstanding the resolution was passed at a stated 
meeting, that the church would cheerfully grant let- 
ters of dismission to any of the brethren and sisters 
who may deem it their duty to unite in forming a se- 
parate interest, at any convenient distance west of the 
present place of worship, the little band of laborers 
feared to venture. They were unable to procure per- 
manently a suitable hall to accommodate a congrega- 
tion, and the times were most unpropitious for a new 
enterprise, as it was during the financial crisis of 
1837. Therefore, they could not hope to build. 
Then there arose a feeling of discontent and jeal- 
ousy among some of the older members toward ' the 
new interest,' lest they should stay long enough to 
draw away, when they did go, a larger number than 
the church could spare, and perhaps the pastor with 
them. 

"These brethren brought the matter to the church, 
and insisted that they should set up their banner im- 



60 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

mediately, or should abandon the mission Sunday 
School and the services held in connection with it. 
The members who were interested in this new move- 
ment resolved that they could not give up their work 
nor relinquish their hope of a permanent organization, 
and that, if the pastor would go with them, they were 
willing to risk an attempt, but not otherwise. 

"Here the mat'ter was brought to an issue, and Mr. 
Kennard must decide it. He saw that the peace of 
the church demanded a separation; but how could he 
see these faithful brethren and sisters sent forth to la- 
bor under such disadvantages, and, to all reasonable 
expectations, fail in their noble work ? He resolved 
to go with them. This at once gave a powerful im- 
petus to the movement. Immediately, one hundred 
and sixty-nine names were enrolled; this list would 
have been more extended, had not the wise and loving 
counsellor restrained the impulse." 

A church was immediately organized, January 1st, 
1838, and their first act, January 2d, was to call Mr. 
Kennard to become their pastor. 

In his letter of resignation to the New Market St. 
Church, he thus speaks of his love for them: "I 
thought nothing but death should separate us;" but 
gives as his motive for. leaving and starting with the 
new interest: ""The advancement of the cause of 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. Gl 

Christ, which has been, is now, and I trust ever will 
be, my highest aim in all my labors." 

This parting was not effected without a great strug- 
gle in the mind of the pastor, who saw that he was 
leaving a field of great usefulness, and where he was 



so 



beloved, that two hundred members voted at first 



not to accept his resignation. He was also besought 
to look at his own interest, to consider the difficulty 
of a pecuniary support, and the probability, as his 
own health was so frail, that he would break down 
under the pressure of such an undertaking. 

In his written resignation these words occur, as his 
parting charge, " With the warmest feelings of an 
affectionate pastor and a dying man, I charge you, be 
at peace and have fervent charity among yourselves ; 
be not bitter one against another, but rather have 
compassion one on another, and be clothed with humil- 
ity. Should the Lord shortly send you another 
pastor, stand by him ; let the deacons be his bosom 
friends ; pity his infirmities and hold up his arms, by 
your fervent prayers to God for him. Toward the 
brethren about to become a separate church, cultivate 
a spirit of sincere love, and pray for their prosperity. 
Their cause is your cause, as your Grod is their God. 
At the close of the present year, I shall publicly take 
my leave of you and the dear congregation." 
6 



62 JOSEPH. H. KENNARD, D.D. 

Drawn together under the ministry of Mr. Ken- 
nard, and animated by his missionary zeal and self- 
sacrificing spirit, the young church started on its 
career. A room was procured at the corner of Seventh 
and Callowhill streets for Sunday morning, and Tem- 
perance Hall, on Third below Green streets, for eve- 
ning meetings. The first sermon preached in the 
Hall by the pastor from the text, "Who is on the 
Lord's side?" was blessed to the awakening of forty 
persons, who rose to request prayers, at the close of 
the discourse. Crowds waited upon the word so faith- 
fully presented, and after each service, many, over- 
powered with the solemnity of divine truth, remained 
weeping and praying. It was indeed a sudden ap- 
pearing of the Lord in the midst of his temple. 

The church now saw the necessity of building a 
place of worship, and in face of the disadvantages of 
the high price of labor and materials, and the re- 
stricted means of the members — few even possessing 
a competency, — they entered upon the work with 
courage and zeal. A lot was purchased on Eighth 
Street above Green, and the foundations were laid 
broad and deep, for the meeting-house of the Tenth 
Baptist Church. . This location was then considered 
the northwestern outskirts of the city; and where now 
acres of costly dwellings cluster, were weed-grown 



JOSEPH H. KENNABD, D.D. 63 

commons, and the rou^h character of the district made 
it more desirable for missionary labor. 

During the summer of 1838, while the house was be- 
ing built, meetings were held every Sunday evening at 
six o'clock, under a commodious tent which was erected 
on the adjoining lot. Many idle passers-by were ar- 
rested by the novel sight, and this sojourn in the open 
air is remembered with romantic interest by those, then 
led into the fold of Christ. In the autumn, the base- 
ment Lecture Room was completed, and entered Sun- 
day, October 14th, 1838, with appropriate services. 
Nine months had elapsed since the organization of the 
church and at the meeting of the Association, the 
first Tuesday in this month, they were admitted to 
that body, with sixty converts added to their number. 
Though wanderers, having no certain dwelling-place, 
the "Angel of the Covenant" blessed them, and 
sacred seasons of communion with heaven made every 
place in which they rested a Bethel. 

Although this was a time of great joy it was also a 
time of great labor. The ladies of the church were 
not less active than the brethren. They took upon 
themselves the burden of the ground-rent, and through 
a "Fair" held in the Hall, raised one thousand dol- 
lars — a great amount for that day — for the furnishing 
of the house. Mrs. Kennard writes in her diary. 



H JOSEPH II. KENNARD, D.D. 

"Mr. Kennard's efforts were almost beyond parallel. 
Always at his post, enduring great fatigue, with over- 
whelming anxiety, both temporal and spiritual; engaged 
with his brethren of the building committee in raising 
the necessary funds, and anxious to press forward to 
completion the upper part of the church, as the con- 
gregation could not be accommodated in the lecture 
room. While pressed with these duties and interests 
the work of building the spiritual temple demanded 
his constant care. Very many inquirers were to be 
instructed, and the home of the pastor was continually 
visited by those needing religious advice." 

Often did Mr. Kennard express his gratitude for the 
manner in which the means were provided for the ex- 
penditures of the committee. The baptistery was used 
April 6, 1839, while the main audience room was un- 
finished, and twenty-seven converts witnessed a good 
confession before a crowded congregation. 

This circumstance is often referred to as a proof of 
God's gracious work in building upon the foundation, 
Jesus Christ, the lively stones of this new spiritual 
temple, faster than the earthly house could be erected 
for his worship. 

When at last the building was complete, in the 
autumn of 1839, the people went up to its dedication 
with tears and songs of joy. Great had been their 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 65 



sacrifices, abundant their labors, and wonderful their 
faith; and now that the house of the Lord stood forth 
before their eyes, they entered into its gates with 
thanksgiving, and into its courts with praise. 

On the day of the dedication, sermons were preached 
by Professor George W. Eaton, of Madison University, 
New York, the Rev. Rufus Babcock, and the Rev. 
George B. Ide, of Philadelphia, all of whom survive 
the pastor. 

No sooner had the house been opened, than it was 
filled in every part with eager listeners to the word. 
The Holy Spirit descending in Pentecostal power, ap- 
plied the preaching to the hearts of the unconverted, 
and a series of revivals, or rather an uninterrupted 
work of grace, continued for about twelve years. We 
well remember the first time the pastor, with inde- 
scribable sadness, announced that " this month no 
converts had presented themselves for baptism," fol- 
lowing the statement by a thrilling exhortation for the 
church to awake to prayer and effort. 

Two years after the constitution of the Church, it 
had increased from one hundred and sixty-nine to six 
hundred and forty-eight members. Of this number, 
three hundred and seventy-two were added by bap- 
tism; and," in a little over five years, seven hundred 
and one converts were brought to the Saviour under 
Mr. Kennard's ministry with this people. 



66 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.I). 

Not content with receiving refreshing influences 
from on high themselves, both pastor and people de- 
sired the sam3 blessing for others, and started mission 
prayer-meetings in destitute neighborhoods. Finding 
that they could secure a good house of worship in the 
district of Kensington, it was obtained; and services 
were immediately held, and a Sunday School estab- 
lished there. The pastor preached and commenced a 
series of meetings, assisted by the Rev. Frederic 
Ketcham. Referring to this, he writes to a friend : 

" You sympathize with me in my labors, and indeed 
they have been excessive. But, will you believe it, I 
am about greatly to increase them by the establish- 
ment of an interest in Kensington. Yes, I have al- 
ready got possession of a new meeting-house lately 
built for Mr. West, very neatly finished. To-morrow, 
the Lord willing, I preach the first sermon. I shall 
preach each Sunday afternoon, and once in the week, 
and take a general oversight. A church will not be 
organized at present. I am only laying 'the foun- 
dation.' Oh, that I may do it 'as a wise master- 
builder,' and then 'let every man take heed how he 
buildeth.' " 

In six months, twenty conversions rewarded their 
efforts. A colony of forty-three persons was dismissed, 
October 15th, 1840, from the church, to labor for the 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 67 

extension of Christ's kingdom, under the name of the 
Twelfth Baptist Church, Kensington. 

Two years subsequently to this enterprise, in Decem- 
ber, 1842, the North Baptist Church was constituted 
under the auspices of the Tenth Church. Thirty-six 
members were dismissed to form the new organization, 
twenty-seven of whom had previously come by expe- 
rience from an irregular church. The establishment 
of a new interest was contemplated, but the assistance 
and sanction of this church was deemed necessary. 

A large and vigorous band of brethren and sisters 
were dismissed, July 3d, 1844, and became the Broad 
street Baptist Church. Sixty-seven persons formed 
this colony, of whom thirty-eight were men. This 
most interesting and promising branch was constituted 
in the meeting-house of the Tenth Church, July 11th, 
1844, in accordance with the recommendation of the 
council held that day. 

A mission Sunday School had been two years in 
successful operation at Thirteenth and Melon streets, 
and the field was well chosen for the enterprise, as the 
result of the effort showed. The Rev. J. L. Burrows 
was called to be pastor, and a large number of the 
members of the Sansom Street Church came with him, 
and were received into the new church, and helped on 
the noble work. This new interest received the hearty 



68 JOSEPH H KENNARD, D.D. 

co-operation of Mr. Kennard, and its prosperity gave 
him great joy. 

The following letter to the Philadelphia Association 
in 1844 will mirror the work of the church at that 
time: 

"Dear Brethren : — With devout gratitude to Grod 
for his goodness, we present our sixth annual report. 
Another year of enlargement hath been granted unto 
us — a year of peace and prosperity. Surely, we have 
abundant cause to 'remember the way the Lord hath 
led us !' The first of January, 1838, we were wel- 
comed to the sisterhood of Baptist churches, without a 
place of worship, with limited pecuniary resources, 
and at a time of great embarrassment and gloom in 
the entire community. But the Angel of Jehovah was 
manifestly with us, and we may say, with the pious 
patriarch, ' Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' Sinco 
that period we have reared a spacious house of prayer, 
in a delightful location, which has ever been filled with 
attentive hearers. 

"Nine hundred and fifty persons have been received 
to membership. Two churches have gone out from us 
in peace; and to them also the Lord hath granted en- 
largement and prosperity. The spirit of contention 
has never been suffered to disturb us. The establish- 
ment of another church in the vicinity of Broad and 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 69 

Coates is at this time contemplated, and would be ac- 
complished immediately had we money at command. 

" While these results create joy and surprise, we are 
constrained to say, 'Not unto us, Lord, not unto 
us, but unto thy name give glory.' Had we been less 
selfish and more faithful, we might have accomplished 
a far greater amount of good; still, goodness and mercy 
distinguish the Lord's doings. 

" Shortly after your session closed, the influence of 
the Spirit was bestowed upon us, causing a deeper in- 
terest in spiritual things, particularly in the preaching 
of the word, and in meetings for prayer. Soon con- 
verts were multiplied, and from month to month we 
visited the emblematic grave attended by crowded as- 
semblies deeply affected ; and many who had not been 
accustomed to attend our worship received their first 
and most effectual religious impressions. 

" The several ministers connected with us, without 
exception, have been actively engaged in preaching 
the gospel in various pulpits and destitute places. Of 
these, three have been dismissed to other fields of 
labor. 

"The health of our pastor, contrary to the fears of 
many, has much improved, and we are cheered with 
the prospect of his continued labors with us. We have 
increased the number of our deacons from five to eight. 



TO JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

as our circumstances seem to require. Besides our 
Sunday-school, we have two adult Bible classes num- 
bering one hundred persons. Four young brethren 
by the advice of the church are now preparing for the 
ministry, with much promise of usefulness. We are 
now contributing to our State Convention four hun- 
dred dollars per year, and we stand pledged for like 
amount to support a missionary among the people of 
the 'Mountain Chief.' 

"In reviewing our state, there is nothing we so 
much need and desire as stability, and perseverance in 
holiness. We are assured that our security and influ- 
ence does not consist in our numbers, nor in large ad- 
ditions, nor in shining gifts or flaming zeal, but in 
consecration to Grod. We have received by baptism 
one hundred and sixteen, by letter fifty-one, and ex- 
perience seventy-seven." 

It is evident from this that the "Tenth Baptist 
Church" had become a decided power in the commu- 
nity. Pastor and people successfully projected enter- 
prises for the advancement of the good cause. The 
colonies that left were the peaceful outgrowth of this 
healthy activity. Every effort to establish missions 
and Sunday-schools in the surrounding neighborhood, 
did not result in permanent institutions; for, in some 
instances, Providence seemed to direct others into 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 71 

the same vineyard, that had greater facilities for the 
accomplishment of the same object ; and sometimes, 
after a great amount of good being done, the work 
would pass into the hands of others. 

The "Spring Garden Hall," "West Coates Street," 
and "Oxford Street" mission schools were each for 
years flourishing and interesting stations for preaching 
and prayer-meetings. Religious instruction, like seed, 
was sown in the hearts of many scholars. The pas- 
tor would often, besides his two regular services, walk 
these great distances to hold forth the word of life. 

Obtaining possession of a meeting-house on Thir- 
teenth street, vacated by another denomination, he 
proposed to his church to plant the standard of Christ 
there. At his solicitation, forty brethren and sisters 
volunteered; and these being joined by twenty-two 
others chiefly from the Calvary Church, were Jan. 30th, 
1855, organized into the Spring Garden Baptist 
Church. 

The Cumberland street, now Mt. Zion Church, was 
also planted mainly through the labors of the young 
brethren of the Tenth Church stimulated by their 
pastor. A Sunday-school, beginning with four scholars, 
was started and sustained mainly by men and means 
supplied by the Young Men's Christian Association 
of the church. Prayer-meetings and preaching were 



72 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

carried on under the fostering care of the pastor and 
a missionary appointed by the Publication Society, a 
lot bought, and a chapel built. These efforts, like the 
others, were prospered by the divine blessing, and 
souls were converted. These, together with brethren 
from various churches, and a valuable colony from the 
Tenth, were constituted into a church, which in a few 
years has grown into strength. 

Dr. Thos. Winter thus writes in a memorial sketch 
of Dr. Kennard: "The Tenth Baptist Church of 
Philadelphia is justly regarded as a remarkable mon- 
ument to the memory of a good and faithful minister 
of Christ, and as a living proof of the glorious effi- 
ciency of the gospel, preached with fidelity and ap- 
plied by the Holy Spirit. * * * 

"A church, commencing with a membership of less 
than one hundred and seventy, has grown at some 
periods, to near eleven hundred members; while 
branches have been planted (four or five) in surround- 
ing localities, which have themselves taken root, be- 
coming strong and wide-spread trees of righteousness 
in the garden of the Lord, yielding good fruit to his 
glory. Individual members also, in large numbers, 
have, by God's providence, been removed to different 
places in the land, carrying with them a strong reli- 
gious influence, which has been of most salutary power 
on others." 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 73 

Twenty-nine years have elapsed since the church 
was formed, and its saving, healthful influence attests 
the wisdom, and rewards the sacrifices of its founders. 
On its twenty-fifth anniversary, January, 1863, the 
members had a kind of Harvest Home. It was a 
glance at the ingathering, a retrospect of years of la- 
bor, a loving reunion of the family at home with the 
laborers abroad. Music and rejoicing were there; 
never did the walls of that house resound gladder notes 
than when, in full chorus, the Lord was praised for 
his great goodness by both " young men and maidens, 
old men and children." The desk was removed, and 
the arm-chair placed in the pulpit, and in it sat the 
loved pastor, now with silvered locks, looking round 
upon his gathered sheaves, and, with grateful joy, re- 
citing the dealings of God w r ith him and his people 
these twenty-five years, with the Ebenezer record, 
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Since January 
1, 1838, when they started forth, a missionary band 
of one hundred and sixty-nine, fourteen hundred and 
fifty converts had been baptized, and twenty ministers 
sent forth to scatter the seed of the kino;dorn. Let- 
ters of greeting came from the absent laborers, and 
words of cheering report from those who now returned 
rejoicing. Hallowed reminiscences awakened the 
tenderest emotions; while those who had been gathered 
7 



74 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

home, during these years, were spoken of as the 
blessed dead whose works do follow them. 
The familiar lines: 

" Hail, sweetest, dearest tie that binds 
Our glowing hearts in one," 

were sung to the tune of u Auld Lang Syne," accom- 
panied, with the most thrilling effect, by full band, 
with brass and stringed instruments. Then a love- 
feast, or social repast, was served, and one thousand 
partook with genial spirit of both the refreshment for 
the body, and of the rich enjoyment of the scene. Just 
at the parting moment, the pastor called together all 
of those who were the constituent members of the 
church in 1838, and with loving words presented each 
with a beautiful bouquet as a memento of the occasion. 
With thanksgiving and a blessing,- the assembly dis- 
persed to their homes, each to remember that anni- 
versary as one of the happiest thoughts of their dear, 
long-loved pastor's heart. 

On a scrap of paper, in his handwriting, we found, 
after his decease, the following, dated July, 1864: 

"Results. — Preached forty-six years — sermons, 
ten thousand — three thousand awakened to salvation 
— two thousand and thirty-three baptized — marriages, 
four thousand and "eighty-nine — funerals, three thou- 
sand nine hundred. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 75 

" Now in view of all the way the Lord hath led me, 
with profound gratitude to a sovereign God and my 
Master Jesus Christ, I lay all the glory at his feet, 
and from my soul say : Grace, grace, glory, glory, be 
given to God and the Lamb, now and forever! 
Amen." 

In the remaining two years, which were among the 
most successful of his life, he baptized more than one 
hundred. 

Surely the history of these forty-eight years estab- 
lishes that faithful saying, " He that goeth forth and 
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." 



76 JOSEPH H. KENNARD. D.D. 



CHAPTER III. 
IN THE P UL PIT. 




HE pulpit is the minister's cross and throne. 
Crucified to self, he attains a sovereignty 
over men's hearts. 

Whatever may be his efficiency in other departments 
of his pastoral office, it is to his preaching that we na- 
turally look for his mightiest efforts and his most 
marked success. There he stands forth in the eyes of 
all the people, on the days specially devoted to the 
hearing of God's message, as Heaven's ambassador. 
In brain, and heart, and life, he bears the credentials 
of his high commission ; and could we penetrate the 
invisible world that surrounds us, we might see sera- 
phic faces, intently listening, and the recording angels 
transcribing his words for an eternal testimony. 

The true preacher, like the poet, is born — not con- 
structed. Dr. Kennard had those natural qualifica- 
tions for the pulpit which are so essential to success ; 
innate qualities of mind and heart that adapted him 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 77 

to teach, persuade, and move men in the channel of 
his own thought and feel in g-. Some men's natures are 
lofty and massive like the ocean rocks ; and some 
are fluent, propulsive, resistless, like the ocean cur- 
rent. His was of the latter quality. 

His soul habitually travailed with thoughts and de- 
sires for men, that yearned for utterance. His mind 
was like a wondrously vital soil, which, beneath those 
warm showers he constantly enjoyed from on high, 
put forth perennial and luxuriant vegetation. The 
pulpit was, therefore, to him never a terror, — preach- 
ing never a task. He loved it ; his whole being was 
married to it. 

But, on the other hand, it was not a place for mere 
[esthetic enjoyment or rhetorical display. Few things 
saddened and angered him more than a flippant dis- 
course, or frivolous manner in the sacred desk. It was 
to him the theatre of the most solemn transactions 
between God and men. It was also an object of his 
enthusiastic faith. He thoroughly believed in its 
divine sanction, and in the presence of the Holy 
Spirit with the preacher, illuminating, inspiring, lis- 
tening. He intensely believed in it as the specific and 
supreme power, under Gocl, for the salvation of the 
world. He had no sympathy with the modern idea, 
that the pulpit is no longer to be depended on as 

7* 



78 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.I). 

the chief instrument for turning men to Grod. He re- 
joiced, and aided most heartily in the distribution of 
religious literature ; he loved the Sunday School, and 
anticipated from it great results ; yet he admitted 
neither of them as the rival of the preached word, 
as the preeminent and divinely blessed channel of 
the gospel message. 

He possessed also the rare ability to think accu- 
rately and well on his feet, and to think his best in 
the presence of an audience and in the heat of dis- 
course. 

If the doctrine of Vinet* be true, that sympathy is 
the foundation of eloquence — sympathy with the 
word and sympathy with the hearer — he was to that 
extent favored. His heart warmed with his theme, 
his intellect kindled with his argument, his deepest 
sensibilities were moved, and his soul lifted itself up 
like a great tidal wave and poured itself over his lips. 

These natural advantages were of utmost value to 
him all through his ministry, in view of the limited 
opportunities he had for acquiring the materials of 



*" Eloquence rests on sympathy. One can never be eloquent except he 
can speak or write under an influence from those to whom he addresses 
himself; they must inspire him, and unless this condition is met, he 
may be profound and interesting, but he cannot be eloquent. He must 
feel the necessity of communicating his life to others." Ixtrod. to 

HOMILETICS. 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 79 

thought and expression for his work. His prepara- 
tion for the pulpit was not after the modern style. 

Payson, in giving an account of his method of pre- 
paration to a friend, says, " On Sunday morning and 
Thursday evening, I preach without notes, hut gene- 
rally from a sketch of my sermon. I should like to 
write more, but my health will not permit it, and I 
find that when any good is done, it is my extempore 
sermons that do it. I am afraid of producing a faith 
which stands, not in the power of God, but in the wis- 
dom of men; and therefore make as little use as pos- 
sible of human arguments; but confine myself to a 
plain, simple statement of divine truth. The sword 
of the Spirit will not wound if it has the scabbard on 
it. I also aim to preach the truths of religion in a 
practical and experimental, rather than in a dry and 
speculative manner." 

The method of Dr. Kennard was an exact parallel, 
and from a similar cause. A chronic tendency to 
congestion of the brain, brought on by hard study in 
his early life, was sure to manifest itself on any con- 
tinued application, while the overwhelming cares of 
the church and incessant demands upon his time left 
him but little space during the week for his Sunday 
preparation. He would generally have some theme 
in his mind, over which he would ruminate when he 



80 JO SEPH H. KENNARD, D.I). 

was walking the streets in his visitations; but it was 
seldom that he could give himself to consecutive 
thought till the Saturday morning. Then he would 
enter his little study, and sit down with a half sheet 
of paper folded before him, his Bible, Concordance, and 
perhaps Henry's Commentary lying near. He seemed 
by a sort of instinct to select texts that were like ripe 
olives, dripping themselves with fresh oil, or clusters 
of purple grapes, only needing a little pressure to 
burst with wine. It seemed to him more profitable to 
draw the precious thoughts of God out of the text 
than to put his own into it. At other times he would 
advance with unsanclalled feet and awe-struck heart 
into the very holy of holies of truth's temple, and 
study the deep things of God, and present to his peo- 
ple those grand and awful doctrines under which the 
heart trembles and the reason staggers, but which are 
needful to him who would " declare the whole counsel 
of God." 

If now he could only be left to his studies, if he 
would lock his door, and deny himself to all comers, it 
were well. But no, he has just got his text written, 
and begun to grasp the thread of his argument, when 
the bell rings, and he with a sigh goes down to see a 
caller. Eeturning to his study, distracted and weary, 
he again sits down, and is soon buried in thought, when 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 81 

another imperative signal calls him to see another te- 
dious visitor. A frequent entry in his Diary was like 
the following. — " Saturday, my most important day 
for study, has been filled with half-hour calls. What 
is to be done? I know not." " Sunday morning, a 
crowded house, seats in aisles; but in what a state- of 
mind I went to the pulpit; how unfit for my holy 
work !" Yet often, after such entries, he would have 
to record: " Preached with great liberty." — "A pow- 
erful time." — "A wonderful day." — " Greatly assisted 
in preaching." 

Thus through the day. He succeeds in getting his 
subject open, and its inner power laid bare by the 
middle of the afternoon, when a carriage waits to 
take him to a funeral, or some case of affliction must 
be visited. He retires early on Saturday night, and 
with good conscience of a week's work well done as 
his opiate, he sleeps soundly. On Sunday morning 
he is up very early, and the first rays of the sun that 
enter his study window fall upon his head, bowed in 
prayer or leaning on his hand in earnest thought. 
From five till nine he thus meditates upon his theme, 
occasionally penning a line that shall be the starting- 
point of an argument or appeal. Then he dresses for 
church, and spends the last half hour in secret prayer 
in his bed-room. Here he would lay the whole sub- 



82 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

ject before the throne, and, as a high-priest, intercede 
for the people to whom he was to preach. He would 
go from his knees to the pulpit, with the fire burning 
in his bones, and the light from the throne shining in 
his face. 

In going to the church he would very often step 
into the Sunday-school for a few minutes' refreshment 
among the children. It was like "drinking of the 
brook in the way," and it enabled him often to "lift 
up the head." Psalm ex. 7. It was from this brook 
also that he would sometimes gather "smooth stones" 
for piercing the brains of Philistine sinners in the 
upper room. 

He enters his pulpit, not in flowing robes and with 
measured tread, to the swell of organ music, but in an 
unostentatious way, giving a smile and a kindly word 
to those that might be clustering around the door ; 
then meekly passes up the aisle, and in a moment is 
with his head bowed in prayer at the desk. 

In conducting the services, the first thing that im- 
presses you, is unconsciousness of self, perfect simpli- 
city, and solemn earnestness. He endeavored to give 
unity to all the parts of the service, directing every 
thing into the channel of the truth to be presented in 
the discourse. In reading the Scriptures, the passage 
would be short, and an occasional word of comment 



JOSEPH II. KENNARD, D.D. 83 

would follow a verse that had impressed him on the 
moment with its richness or needed a raj of light 
thrown on its obscurity. His prayers were, to the 
last degree, child-like and ingenuous. They were very 
brief. We sometimes thought they were not compre- 
hensive enough. They would not have gratified one 
who was fond of the aesthetic in worship. There were 
no eloquent addresses to the Deity, no rolling forth 
of sublime paragraphs. His sentences were short, 
plain, full of pith, and had a hungry tone. The sub- 
jects of his prayers were, at any one time, few. He 
was sometimes quaint, generally original, and seldom 
repeated himself. He seemed to be praying, not so 
much to the congregation, as to the Jehovah. I sup- 
pose the extreme simplicity and brevity of them re- 
sulted from his idea that God did not need to have 
things explained to him in fine rhetoric, and also that 
a congregation soon wearies in that exercise, and that 
it is useless for the preacher to go on with his prayer 
after the people have finished theirs. As the head of 
wheat bends lower as it ripens, he used, the latter part 
of his ministry, to kneel in the pulpit on all occasions. 
In giving out the "notices," he would seem to a 
stranger far too lengthy. This was partly accounted 
for by the fact that the Lord's Day was only one of 
the seven days in which the Tenth Church were accus 



84 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

tomed to work and worship, and the plan of labor for 
the week had to be laid out on the Sunday morning. 

The devotional service over, the pastor rises to 
preach. The meeting-house, spacious as it is, is 
filled, the young people chiefly crowding the galleries. 
As he stands before you, you at once feel that there 
is something in his presence to check frivolity and 
awaken reverence. He is short of stature, bat per- 
fectly masculine. A frame stout and muscular, 
fashioned and knit together for hard work. 

His head is the most striking part of him. Soft, 
thin locks, tending to a curl, are brushed back from. 
a brow broad and high, seeming to occupy more than 
its share of the face. That face, once round and 
smooth and rosy ; then marked with the lines of care 
and "the pale cast of thought ;" and then, for many 
years, lit up with a celestial peace and love ! A mas- 
sive face, brimming with expression all the time; but 
with features so exquisitely pliable, and in such per- 
fect sympathy with the thoughts within, that every 
feeling, as it rises in his mind, sends its wave of ex- 
pression over the face, though no word be uttered by 
the lips. His mouth is full, and capable, in its firm com- 
pression, of showing how immovable he could, be in 
his sense of right, yet how often wreathed in gentlest 
smiles, how often quivering with tenderest emotion ! 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 85 

A hazel eye — not large — looks out from under heavy 
eyebrows, craggy and dark sometimes when the eye 
would flash ; but oftener like moss-coverecl rocks, under 
which the same eyes would dilate and sparkle like 
fountains, and like fountains flow. 

Altogether, as he stands there, he looks an un- 
worldly man, and intent on good. He puts on 
his glasses to read his text, then lays them on the 
Bible and looks at his people. There is something 
more in that look than the embarrassed appearance of 
one who is anxious for approbation, something more 
than the awkward feeling of having to speak a piece 
and wishing it were over. Were he a soldier, you 
would say he meant fight; were he a merchant, that he 
meant business. As an ambassador of heaven, he evi- 
dently means, " I have a message from Grod unto 
thee."* 

As he introduces his theme and lays down the pre- 
mises of his argument, he aims to be explicit, uses 

* Said a noble young soldier, "Before I went to the war, I was by 
some strange instinct led to enter this church on a Fast-day. I took a 
seat in the back part of the building. It was the first time I ever saw 
our pastor, and his looks I shall ever remember. I went to the army, 
but that face was ever before me. I resolved that if I was ever spared 
to get home I would see it again. Attending the meetings of the 
Christian Commission, I became converted. Then I had the greater de- 
sire to get back to that church and that pastor ; and I thank God that 
he has spared my life and permitted that good man to bury me in bap- 
tism." 



86 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

Saxon words, and seeks to be understood; and then, 
instead of gathering pretty shells around the shores 
of his subject, he plunges at once into its depths to 
bring up its hidden riches. He has a proclivity for 
getting at the roots of things ; he evidently knows 
where to find the marrow and fatness of a doctrine, 
and where to find the chords in human hearts that he 
would make to vibrate. His manner in preaching was 
so varied that no one could fix on one occasion and 
give 4 it as a standard. Sometimes very quiet, didactic, 
and deliberate ; at other times springing full of impas- 
sioned sentiment into his subject, speaking rapidly 
and with vehemence ; then at other times there would 
be the tender, persuasive tones full of pathos as the 
South wind's breath. 

A frequent position with him was to lean with one 
arm on the desk, while, reaching over with the other 
upraised and looking steadily in the faces of the peo- 
ple, he would expostulate with them. His action, 
always spontaneous, would sometimes be almost tragic; 
as when, on one occasion, carried away by the inten- 
sity of his feelings, he fell upon his knees by the side 
of his desk, and stretching out his hands, continued to 
plead with sinners not to despise the mercies of God. 
He had the gift of tears also, but not as some. He 
did not " dissolve" in weeping. He was never so 



JO SEPH M. KENNARD, D.D. 87 

powerfully moved as that his sensibilities entirely 
mastered him. You could see the fountains welling up 
into his eyes, his lips quivering ; but at the same time 
the strong man battling with the torrent of his emo- 
tions, and conquering. Hence there was no impression 
of effeminacy, which creates a revulsion in the feel- 
ings of an audience, but of a manly tenderness, that 
would betray itself in spite of him. Sometimes his 
lips would seem to be touched with the celestial fire, 
and he would rise to a height of impassioned elo- 
quence that held his audience spell-bound, a conscious 
quiver passing over them, as when a strong wind 
sweeps the bending tree-tops. 

Impenitent men have told us how beneath his 
appeals they would shrink into themselves and spon- 
taneously cover their faces for shame. It was not 
unusual for the congregation when dismissed to clasp 
hands in silent emotion, and with scarce a word depart 
to their homes, absorbed in self-examination, op- 
pressed with awe. 

But the most frequent and satisfactory evidences of 
his pulpit power were not in these emotional effects, 
which might be only the springing up of rootless 
seed on stony ground to wither in the heat of noon, 
but in the multitude of sincere penitents that would, 
during the week, flock to his house for counsel, or 



88 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

appear in the Conference room to confess, that under 
the preaching of the Lord's Day they were stricken as 
with a sword of light, or that the winged arrow of 
truth from a vigorous bow had found its mark, and 
awaited the same hand that sped it so surely to gently 
draw it forth, and bind with healing balm a wounded 
heart. 

But what was the secret of his power ? We said, in 
the opening of this chapter, that the pulpit is the min- 
ister's cross and throne. It becomes his throne by 
being his cross. In some lowly sense, he is in this 
matter like his adorable Master. 

All manifestations of God towards men are in self- 
sacrifice ; and the life of Christ, which was but a part 
of the infinite life of God, was symbolized by the cross. 
It was from that cross he exercised a sovereignty over 
men's hearts that he could not have exercised had he 
not humbled himself unto death. It is when love finds 
no language but blood, that it becomes resistlessly elo- 
quent. And he who will prevail with men from the 
pulpit, must first have died to self. Laying himself, 
talents, learning, ambitions, affections, all upon the 
altar of love to Christ, and to the souls of men; let him 
call down the Spirit's sacrificial flame to consume the 
offering ; and then he becomes forever after a savor of 
life unto life to men, as well as a sweet savor unto 
God. 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 89 

It is when men see the minister forgetful of self-inter- 
est, regardless of popularity, either for. learning, elo- 
quence, or wit, but ready to be nothing, that Christ 
may be all, and men may be saved; then they' are 
moved — they are swayed — they surrender themselves to 
the sovereignty of such a spirit, as to a manifestly ac- 
credited priest of heaven. Thenceforth, the pulpit 
becomes a throne, and the utterances therefrom carry 
in them a power, compared with which there is no 
combination of mere mental forces that can move 
mankind. 

It was from this cause, largely, though by no means 
exclusively, that Dr. Kennard's preaching was a power 
in the community. What he might have made as a 
pulpit orator, — in the elaborateness, the polish, the 
completeness, and rhetoric art which that term may 
imply, — had he been willing to deny himself to the 
multitudes, who monopolized his time and strength, we 
may never know. No one who studied the elements of 
his character, doubted that, had he devoted himself 
to the life of a student, he would have attained an ex- 
alted position in the ranks of the theologians and 
preachers whose names adorn the history of the church. 

But adopting in its most comprehensive sense the 
sentiment of our Lord, "I came not to be ministered 
unto, but to minister," he allowed the community and 



90 JOSEPH II KENNARD, B.D. 

the church to take complete possession of him, or 
rather he spread out the wings of his paternal solici- 
tude and sympathy over all the weak, the suffering, 
and the dependent. He did not, however, lose his re- 
ward even in that direction in which he seemed to 
abandon it ; for while his preparation for the pulpit 
was so limited and unsatisfying as compared with that 
of many of his colleagues, yet the feeling on the part 
of his hearers awakened by the sight of his self-sacri- 
ficing spirit, opened their hearts to receive his plainest 
and most inartistic utterances, with a deference and a 
spontaneous faith that is often denied to the most 
brilliant and elaborate sermons, the laborious struc- 
tures of the many hours in which the man of God has 
excluded himself from the world. This, then, was 
one element of his pulpit power, the back-ground of 
self-sacrifice, on which his preaching rested, and the 
wealth of love that illumined it, and radiated from it. 

Another element of power in his preaching was that 
structure and tone of his mind which I know not how 
to denominate but as genius. 

To accomplish the work he did; to train up such a 
church; to govern them with an authority so gentle 
that it was scarcely perceived, and yet so entire that 
it was never disputed; to hold together for twenty- 
eight years such a congregation, notwithstanding the 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 91 



multiplying of churches around him, with men of the 
noblest endowments in their pulpits, — something more 
was needed than a goodness and benevolence of cha- 
racter. His power was the energy of a thoroughly 
masculine intellect, working in harness with a sancti- 
fied and loving heart. He was primarily a thinker. 
Amidst the multitude of his cares, his mind was work- 
ing like some piece of ponderous and never-ceasing 
mechanism. His methods of expression were not 
what is usually termed scholarly. He had a keen re- 
pugnance to pedantry. He was a most independent 
thinker. He read of modern books of theology and 
criticism, few. Doubtless, he went to an extreme in 
his want of enthusiasm for certain parts of modern re- 
ligious literature. He loved his old standard friends, 
Gill and Fuller, Coles and Owen, Newton and Ed- 
wards. But he loved more, with Bible open before 
him, to think for himself. He dug his theology, 
therefore, out of the original mines; and it seemed, 
when interwoven with his preaching, to possess a sin- 
gular richness and freshness every time it was enun- 
ciated, while it was happily free from those technical 
words on which the changes are rung so often in the 
pulpit, to the utter puzzling of the hearers. 

His preaching, therefore, while not of the style called 
scholarly in its phraseology and method, was essen- 



92 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D D 



tially intellectual. His discourses, so far from being 
merely hortatory and emotional, always arose from and 
rested on a massive foundation of pure logic. They were 
eminently though not ostentatiously argumentative. 
This was especially the case with the doctrinal sermons 
that he so often preached. He did not waste the time 
and weary the brains of his people by raising and an- 
swering objections which would never otherwise have 
occurred to them ; nor did he parade a dialectic skill 
in rehearsing the forensic disputes of dead men over a 
doctrine or practice. But by an original yet pro- 
found analysis of his subject, he stated in clear and 
comprehensible words the argument by which the doc- 
trine or duty was established. By a brief, luminous, 
yet impregnable logic, he reached and convinced the 
judgments of his hearers, and then was prepared to 
carry the citadel of their hearts. 

His hearers, therefore, knew, when they girded 
their minds to listen, that they were not going to be 
lost in a maze of rhetorical disputation, nor required 
to chase some ignis fatuus of modern interpretation; 
but to be brought by the most direct road to the gra- 
nite foundations and structures of Christian faith. 
They understood that they were not being merely 
persuaded of a truth by the pathos of a good man, but 
that they were in "the grasp of a wise and vigorous 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 93 

mind,— a mind that was crippled by no sophistical 
doubts, but that held with unquestioning confidence 
truths which he had arrived at by years of patient 
study and vital experience. 

Another element of his power was undoubtedly su- 
pernatural. He was full of the Holy Ghost, and 
spake as the Spirit gave him utterance. His faith in 
the presence and vitalizing aid of the Divine Spirit 
was intense. He cast himself with an unhesitating 
confidence on an infinite power, and expected that 
men would be moved by the preaching, when he con- 
sciously knew that blessed Spirit to be filling, irradi- 
ating, humbling, exalting his own soul, — and not 
otherwise. God was well pleased with the honor ren- 
dered him by such a faith ; and, responding to the 
pantings of that soul, accepted him as a channel 
through which he would pour upon the minds and 
hearts of men his celestial light and renewing grace. 



94 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 



CHAPTER IV. 
IN REVIVALS. 




HE history of the ministry of Dr. Kennard 
was, in a signal manner, a history of revivals. 
Two prominent ideas, which he constantly 
sought to realize, were a spiritual church and the sal- 
vation of souls. As he aimed at personal sanctity of 
heart and consecration of life himself, so he sought to 
lead his people to holiness, and sinners to Christ. It 
would be difficult to express, without the appearance 
of exaggeration, how these ideas were burned into the 
very heart of the man ; how they consumed in their 
warmth and glory all secondary or selfish considera- 
tions. His soul rejected as trivial every thing that 
did not bear with manifest directness upon the attain- 
ment of this luminous ideal; and he counted a day 
lost that did not advance him toward its realization. 
It gave unity, tone, and coloring to all his sermons. If 
his theme was temperance, or fashionable amuse- 
ments, the observance of the Lord's Day, or the moral 



JOSEPH II. KENNARD, D.D. 95 

duties of citizenship, his predominant ideas would peep 
out and betray themselves ; and the strongest motives 
were always drawn from the Cross and the soul's 
eternal needs. The primary cause, then, of his suc- 
cess, was, humanly speaking, this fervent zeal for the 
glory of the church in the rescue of imperilled souls. 
Like a deep under-current, or gulf stream, it was 
warming him, and moving him at all times in one di- 
rection. 

It sometimes happens that the pastor's heart lacks 
the fervor of many members of his church. This could 
never be said of him. His people always felt the pre- 
sence of their pastor's restless anxiety for a state of 
revival. He never gave them time to settle upon 
their lees. Unlike those who, after a season of re- 
freshing, suspend their special exertions and rest upon 
their gathered sheaves, with him the existence of a re- 
vival only strengthened his conviction that this was 
the only normal, safe, and efficient state for a church ; 
while it kindled to a still brighter glow his desire for 
its perpetuation. So far from taking it as a matter of 
course that these seasons of special interest should 
decline and pass away, he never could witness their 
waning without an anxiety amounting to agony. 

His preaching in preparation for a revival was 
eminently doctrinal. He sought to lay a good foun- 



96 J OSEPII H. KENNARD, D.D. 

dation in the intelligence of his hearers, believing that 
mere exciting appeals to their sensibilities must be but 
building upon the sand. He did not hesitate to array 
before them the doctrines most repulsive to the natural 
heart, — the divine sovereignty, eternal election, and 
predestination, the utter ruin of human nature, and 
the exceeding sinfulness of sin, our helpless depen- 
dence on the quickening Spirit, the majesty of law, and 
the hopelessness of self-righteousness. He took, with 
Edwards, God's side in the argument with sinners, 
laying all the guilt at their door; yet he could never 
end his most searching discourses, without, like 
Whitefield, melting with human compassion over con- 
demned and imperilled man. He did not stand off 
and hurl rocks from Sinai upon the heads of men; 
but, while opening the depths of a sinner's corrupt 
heart to his view, and piercing his wound with the 
probe of the most pungent truth, he laid underneath 
him the gentle arm of a pitying surgeon ; and his con- 
gregation went away, loving him though often hating 
themselves. 

At the same time that he was appealing to the un- 
converted — especially in the evening service — he was 
plowing up the fallow ground of the church, by 
arraying before them the guilt and misery of backslid- 
ing, urging them to secret prayer, wooing them back to 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 97 



their first love, and, by appeals of indescribable 
earnestness, setting before them the perils of their 
impenitent families and friends, and rolling upon them 
the responsibility of the final loss of souls. 

Under some of these, which were delivered with an 
authority and faithfulness seldom attained in modern 
pulpits, or submitted to by modern congregations, but 
more resembling the style of a Baxter or a Massillon, 
the membership would be filled with profoundest awe, 
and the house become a "place, of weeping," where 
all hearts were bowed before the Lord in childlike 
contrition. Often, after such a sermon, a day of 
fasting and humiliation would be appointed, and these 
were times on which he greatly set his heart. He 
literally observed fasting from food, denying him- 
self everything but what was necessary to the sustain- 
ing of his strength for the labors of the day. Three 
services were held during the day, the tide of religious 
feeling rising steadily, until the evening meeting was 
often one of great heart humbling. Members of the 
church, both men and women, moved by one common 
impulse, would rise, and tearfully and ingenuously 
acknowledge their neglect of duty, invoke the forgive- 
ness of God and his people, and express their fervent 
longings for a closer walk with God, and a revival of 
religion in the church.. When the members were not 
9 



98 JOSEPH H. KEAWARD, V.D. 

anxious for the souls of the impenitent around them, 
it was regarded as a sad sign of spiritual declension ; 
and requests sent to the pulpit, the evening of the 
fast day, asking for prayers for dear relatives, marked 
the awaking to a new vigor. 

The simple expression of some burdened heart — 
"My Father," "My Son," "My Sister,"— was un- 
derstood and the petition offered. How like "the 
very house of God" did the place appear while inter- 
cessions rose, and answers came, even while they yet 
wrestled at the throne of grace! 

Just here we recall such an incident. An old lady, 
well known for quaintness of speech, rose on one occa- 
sion, and said with broken voice, "Do pray for my old 
man!" The request was promptly responded to. On 
going home that night sue found him walking the floor 
in a kind of sad bewilderment. "Father, what's the 
matter?" she asked.—" Matter ? I don't know, but 
something has been done for me!" — "Why yes," she 
cried with childlike faith and joy, "we have all been 
praying for your soul." It was soon evident that God 
had speedily heard, for conviction of sin and convert- 
ing grace came to that "old man's" heart. 

In these revivals, some of those who became pillars 
in the church were made trophies of conquering grace 
as the direct answer to prayer. During the great 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 99 

refreshing, in the year 1840, before referred to, a 
young wife, who with her husband had been wedded 
to the gaieties of the world, and had drunk to the full of 
the pleasures it could afford, was drawn by some mys- 
terious influence to the revival meetings. Her eyes 
were opened to discover the emptiness of earth's 
" broken cisterns," and every evening she was found 
in the prayer room seeking the waters of life. Her 
husband became alarmed that she should be so in- 
terested, and said to her on one occasion when she 
was preparing to go where her heart found relief, 
"My dear Sarah, we can never be happy again. I 
see how it is to be. We have always walked one path 
till now; but a gulf is widening between us. If you 
go to church to-night, I shall go to the theatre." 

Dismayed, but prompted by conscience to persevere, 
she went, lifting her burdened heart in prayer for him. 
On her return she found her husband at home; he had 
started for the purpose he had promised, but before he 
had gone many steps his sins had risen up before his 
face, and fear had taken hold upon him. He had 
walked the streets in mental anguish, till the time for 
her return, and now was ready to fall before the mer- 
cy seat and join his cries with hers for heaven's pity 
on him, a sinner. A few weeks after, they went down 
together into the waters of baptism, and sat together 

LofC. 



100 JOSEPH H. KENNA ED, D.D. 

at the communion table reflecting in each other's faces 
their new-found joy. They were soon among the 
most earnest workers in the vineyard. 

Did the space and the object of this volume permit, 
narratives of thrilling incidents transpiring in these 
meetings might be greatly multiplied, abundantly 
testifying to the genuineness and thoroughness of the 
work, and to the glory of God's victorious grace. 

In the beginning of the glorious refreshing in 1860, 
he wrote as follows to his son-in-law, under date of 
February 13th: 

"My Dear Alfred: — The Tenth Church is again 
blessed, or rather in the beginning of a blessed work. 
The World's Prayer Week was a great week with us, 
and it has been extended to the present time with in- 
creasing power. The work began, as was proper, in 
the hearts of the members ; and, to use an old-fash- 
ioned word, such 'breaking down' of hearts — and 
hearts, too, where it was not looked for — I think I 
have not known for many years. A greater intensity 
of feeling than I witnessed in the same persons many 
years ago when first seeking Christ. The men and 
women have had meetings apart in private houses for 
mutual confession, and the effect has been such as any 
pastor might rejoice to see. J , to my surprise, 



JOSEPH H. KENJSTARD, D.B. 101 

was among the first deeply to feel and earnestly to 
act. He went from man to man, who had like him- 
self stood back from duty, and exhorted them. He 
called a meeting of such at his own house, and it 
proved to be very powerful. They had another on 
last Thursday evening, which he led ; and on Friday 
night he spoke in a very full meeting with deep effect. 
We have some thirty inquirers, but up to this time the 
work is not extensive among the unconverted." 

Sometimes the indications given of the coming of 
reviving power would pass away fruitless, like blos- 
soms smitten with frost. But generally there was 
a steady growth of religious interest, spreading through 
the church and extending among the unconverted. 
Then the lecture room, which was generally well filled, 
would begin to be crowded ; the countenances of the 
members were lighted up with fires of zeal and looks 
of expectation, as when the "King in his beauty" is 
about to pass by, with all his shining train of angels ; 
while a death-like solemnity pervaded the ranks of 
impenitent ones, who filled every seat and crowded 
into every standing-place in the rear of the room. 

In the midst of a great revival, it was necessary to 
carry the meetings into, the main audience room of the 
church. The exercises consisted generally of a short 

9* 



102 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 

sermon, preceded and followed by a series of prayers. 
Then the "anxious" were invited to come to the 
front seat, while the brethren were singing an appro- 
priate hymn. Oh ! that we could now record those 
words of affectionate entreaty from the pastor, to come, 
and by that act, declare that they were willing to ap- 
proach 

" That gracious King 
Whose sceptre pardon gives;" 

and those beseechings and warnings not to neglect 
these opportunities, nor harden their hearts; while 
with persuasive look and tone he would inquire, 

"Will you to Mount Zion go ? 
Will you have this Christ or no ? " 

The response would awaken the deepest emotions, 
as among those who clustered round the pulpit would 
be seen here and there children of parents who had 
long labored and hoped for their conversion, and dear 
scholars taking this step toward the celestial city, to 
the joy of faithful teachers. How we should love to 
portray this dear "Evangelist" among his group of 
inquirers, so full of anxiety, that each should reach 
the "Wicket Gate!" We can see him now standing 
by some one specially distressed with a view of his 
sinfulness, and wafted again to us comes that hymn, 
as sung by his voice alone, 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 103 

"Oh that my load of sin wore gone! 

Oh that I could at last submit, 
At Jesus' feet to lay me down, 

To lay my soul at Jesus' feet \" 

As he passed from one to another of the group, 
meeting here and there with a happy, peaceful face, 
how quickly his own would glow with the joy of angels, 
as he would announce the birth of a soul into the 
kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ah! memory 
treasures, what can only thus be gathered. But shall 
we not again behold the central figure in these scenes, 
with the redeemed ones around him as a halo ? Is it 
not written, " They that be wise shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many 
to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever?" 

The relation, before the church and congregation, 
of the experience of new converts drew crowds to the 
sanctuary. Christians were reminded of the time of 
their first love ; and inquirers were cheered by hearing 
from those who had recently been seeking " the King's 
highway of holiness," how they had found it, and 
through this means were enabled to enter themselves ; 
and careless ones, who came to observe, would leave 
the house of prayer, asking in their hearts, if it were 
not time for them to ponder the path of their feet. 

The pastor had acknowledged talent for conducting 
these services. Happy in introducing the candidates 



101 JO SEPH H. KENNA /?£> D.D 



in succession, by referring to some fact in their history, 
or quoting a Scripture promise fulfilled ; and, with the 
touch of a skilful player on an instrument, ready to 
apply the experience to the hearts of the hearers. 

With what intense expectation would the Lord's 
Day be anticipated, especially if there was to be a 
baptism of those professing faith in Christ! How 
much the administrator enjoyed the privilege of lead- 
ing converts in the steps of their divine Master ! Then 
the communion would be a time of heavenly enjoy- 
ment, since the north wind and the south wind had 
blown upon the garden, and the spices sent forth their 
fragrance, inviting the beloved to come and partake 
with his people the feast of love. 

The following record of perhaps the greatest of 
these revivals is contained in the church's letter to the 
Association in the autumn of 1840. 

"The deep solemnity, the humble pleadings for 
mercy, the anxious inquiry of the awakened sinner, 
called forth the inspired expression, ' Surely the Lord 
is in this place !' * * The word of God was made effec- 
tual to us. The annual sermon to the youth, the first 
Sunday in the year, resulted in the conversion of more 
than a score of persons, and on other occasions similar 
results were witnessed. The divine influence, like a 
gentle river, continued to rise, embracing in its ex- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 105 

pansive course the aged and the young, the husband 
and wife, parents and children. At least one hundred 
and fifty heads of families have been made willing to 
follow Jesus. 

"The means employed have been scriptural. No 
novel agencies, no laborious efforts to awaken feeling, 
no noise, no hurried admissions, were tolerated ; nor 
were we favored with the attendance of any brother 
sifted in effecting reformations. The stated adminis- 
tration of the ordinances has been remarkably blessed, 
and the pastoral office has been honored of God. Ex- 
cepting occasional sermons from city pastors, — for 
which we were truly grateful, and which were not in 
vain, — we were alone; and yet not alone, for the Lord 
was with us. The pastor labored at his post, the 
church prayed without ceasing, and the Lord granted 
the increase. The doctrine of sovereign grace; the 
sinner's entire depravity, and inability to help himself; 
the necessity of the renewing of the Divine Spirit ; and 
the perfect righteousness of Christ, — were fully exhi- 
bited from the pulpit. 

" The work has not been a sudden shower, but a 
deep flowing stream, rising by regular gradations for 
several months ; and, having reached its height, al- 
most imperceptibly declined. Our house still remains 
filled with attentive hearers, and converts are daily 



106 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

coming to join in songs of redeeming love. We have 
visited the emblematic grave fifteen times, and bap- 
tized two hundred and fifty-seven persons." 

Such was the constant outpouring of the Divine 
Spirit upon Dr. Kennard's labors, that, for many 
years, not a month passed but rejoicing converts were 
welcomed to the fold, and it became proverbial that 
" the Tenth Church was always in a revival." JSTor 
were these conversions of that transient character 
which too often gives a sad distinction to times of spe- . 
cial religious awakening. A brother minister, emi-- 
nently qualified to judge impartially on this subject, 
says : " Considering the great numbers that from time 
to time have professed conversion under the labors of 
Dr. Kennard, and have been added to the church, no 
one of only moderate candor would wonder, should 
some have been self-deceived, or have deceived others, 
and, having no root in themselves, should, in time of 
temptation, fall away. But it might fairly be ques- 
tioned, if, considering the very great number of per- 
sons brought in under his ministry, any Baptist, or 
other evangelical church, has been less afflicted than 
has the church of Dr. Kennard's charge by public 
scandals, or by apostasies from the cause of Christ. 
The success of Dr. Kennard — now become history — 
was great and real. And the question, 'How is it to 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 107 

be accounted for?' is best answered by the words of 
the prophet : i Not by might, nor by power, but by 
my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.' ' 

But his deep interest in revivals was not selfishly 
limited to his own flock. It was as broad as the 
world. He hailed with joy the news, come from what 
quarter it might, that showers of refreshing from on 
high were being enjoyed. He would report the tidings 
to his church, and call upon them to join in acclama-" 
tions to God for it. 

• In reply to a letter from the writer, informing him 
of an extensive work of conversion among his own 
people in Bridgeton, in February, 1857, he wrote : 

"My Dear Son: — Seldom, if ever, has a letter 
from your hand given so much joy as the one A ■ re- 
ceived yesterday. To know that your health was good 
under the pressure of more than usual labors and 
anxieties, was pleasant news. But especially to learn 
that God is manifesting his favor to- you in your new 
and important charge, sealing with his smile and the 
•pouring forth of his Holy Spirit your relation to the 
church and congregation as a pastor, gives us great 
joy indeed. 

"I stated the facts in your letter in meeting last 
evening, and many rejoiced greatly. Mrs. W. said, 
she knew it would be so. She, it seems, has been con> 



108 JOSEPH H. KEiVNARD, D.D. 

stantly praying for you, and looked for an answer. 
I felt a special interest in your first baptism, that it 
might succeed. 

" I bless God for that 'youth's meeting.' By all 
means, appoint another, and follow the cloud of divine 
grace as it moves before you ; only do not overtax 
your strength of body or mind. Take rest. Sleep 
and eat with regularity, and, above all, pray in secret, 
daily, to be meek and lowly in heart. Oh, my dear 
son, cherish in your heart the deepest sense of your 
unworthiness of the great mercy bestowed on you in 
every way. You know that even Paul was in danger 
of being exalted above measure, even by the divine 
goodness; and 'a thorn in the flesh ' became needful. 

" We shall all continue to pray for you daily. The 
blessed work with us is advancing gently. Not a 
meeting, that new cases of both awakening and of hope 
are not brought to my knowledge. I will not write 
particularly now. As I must close, I again charge 
you not to overtax mind or body. Get help ; let your 
excellent brethren help ; have prayer-meetings, and 
open them by a short exhortation. You will find them 
of great advantage. Write again very soon. Furnish 
us with the latest results, and the Lord prosper you 
greatly. Your affectionate father, 

"J. H. Kennard." 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 109 

Again, only a few weeks before he was gathered as 
a " shock of wheat fully ripe" himself, he shows his 
deep interest in the harvest work on earth : 

"Philadelphia, March 2, 186b. 

" My Dear Son : — Your letter, bringing the news 
of your safe return, and the blessed work of grace 
sweetly progressing. in your church, quite delighted 
me. I trust it will still progress, until very many may 
be converted. I have much confidence in your wisdom 
and prudence in conducting meetings at such a time; 
and your care not to baptize hastily, nor without due 
inquiry both as to character, and a true change. Oh, 
how much wisdom is needed at such a time as this ! 

"I hope you will not overtax your strength, but re- 
member it will be needed after these special meetings 
have run their course. I am glad Brother De Witt 
Taylor is with you, and hope the visit may be a mutual 
blessing. 

" There ought to be a notice of the work of grace 
sent to the ' Examiner.' It is for the glory of God, 
and will do the church good. 

"I wish you to write me further about the work, 

and how you hold out ; and do it soon, as it gives me 

so much joy. I baptized thirteen last Lord's Day, and 

it was a blessed day. Others are being made ready, 

I trust, by the Lord, and by him to be added to the 

church. Your loving Father." 

10 



110 JOSEPH H KENNARD, D.D. 



CHAPTER V. 

IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. 




HE Conference and prayer-meetings of a church 
may always be regarded as the barometer 
that indicates the condition of its religious 
atmosphere — the pulse that reveals its spiritual vitality. 
A wise pastor will, therefore, regard that meeting 
with deepest interest, and endeavor to give to it a 
quality and efficiency that will lift it above the dullness 
and platitude which characterize too many church 
prayer-meetings. The conference room of the Tenth 
Church, has been from the very first a Bethel ; and 
many times a Bochim. Those who incidentally visited 
it, and the veterans who made it their almost nightly 
resort, agree in saying, that a remarkable charm and 
power were found there. 

The felt presence of the Spirit of the Most High was 
the primary, and efficient cause of this; but instru- 
mentally it was due to the unction and tact of him 
who conducted its exercises. He made it a speciality 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. Ill 



in his work, He could not endure a cold, stereotyped 
meeting. He believed such an occasion was a favorite 
opportunity for the enemy of the church to exert his 
deadening charms. He studied the best methods of 
infusing life and fervor into the service, without run- 
ning into extravagance and fanaticism. He always en- 
deavored to prepare his own heart for the service, for he 
thought it inevitable, that a cold and soulless manner 
on the leader's part would give tone to all the exercises. 
He would generally come into the meeting with a 
heart kindled to a glow by closet devotions or by con- 
versing with anxious inquirers, who frequently came to 
the house for a few words of advice and comfort on 
their way to the church. He made it a point to break 
up stiffness and routine ; he conducted the meeting by 
no fixed methods ; avoided, as far as possible, calling on 
any " leading brethren" byname to take part, pre- 
ferring to leave it to the spontaneous impulse of each. 
It was in these meetings that he carefully sought to 
call out the talents of his members, encouraged the 
young converts to take part publicly, believing that, 
as a rule, the first few months of a young Christian's 
life decide his character. The result was that, in 
proportion to the membership, there was an unusually 
large number, on whom he could depend to exhort or 
pray when opportunity offered. 



112 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

The later years of his life, he had the young men as 
they were brought into the fold to occupy seats 
together at his right hand, where together they might 
lift up their voices in praise, and strengthen each other 
in their early and timid efforts to engage audibly in 
the services. 

He did not always give out the hymn, but encour- 
aged the brethren to start "a familiar verse or two," 
which the whole congregation would know by heart 
and join in singing. 

One of the young men, Brother Charles S., whose 
soul was as full of melody as his taste was accurate, 
was for years the leader of the service of song. Seem- 
ing to anticipate the pastor's thought, he was always 
ready with the appropriate verse or chorus to swell the 
tide of religious feeling or quicken holy emotion when 
it languished. 

He sought to direct the exhortations and prayers 
to some specific object each evening ; and was fond of 
bringing illustrations from the incidents of the day, 
both in the life of the city and the individual experi- 
ences of those he had visited, to point an exhortation, 
enforce a duty, or cheer the weary and heavy-laden. 
He made it a point also to attend the noon prayer- 
meeting, on Friday,, that he might bring from it interest- 
ing facts for his own people. 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 113 

His devotion to his conference meeting was absorbing. 
He could have truly said : " The zeal, of thine house hath 
eaten me up." He never could be persuaded to be ab- 
sent from it, when absolute duty did not call him away. 
We well remember an occasion when invited to meet, at 
the hospitable mansion of Geo. H. Stuart, Esq., that 
eminent missionary, Dr. Duff, together with several of 
the most distinguished ministers of the city. He 
sighed, when he read the pressing invitation, and said, 
that, "as it occurred on his meeting night, he must 
deny himself the pleasure." His children, knowing 
how rare and delightful an entertainment it would be, 
and how much he would enjoy meeting those great- 
hearted men, conspired to conquer by a protracted 
siege his opposition. For a while he stood firm. "It 
was not to be thought of, he must be at his prayer- 
meeting." Still we knew how great a self-denial it 
was, and how great the struggle; and we opened our 
united batteries of argument and persuasion, aided by 
twining arms and kisses, till at last his guns were 
silenced, he hauled down his flag, and went. The 
evening proved even more delightful than he or we had 
anticipated ; one of these rare convocations of men 
congenial in the higher range of religious thought 
and experience, where representatives of different 
branches of the Christian church met to exchange 

10* 



114 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

courtesies, and congratulations on the spread of the 
Redeemer's kingdom. 

When he came home he related with delight the 
many interesting incidents of the evening, and with a 
child's wonder told how host and guests had vied with 
each other in showing him honor. Yet he anxiously 
inquired, how the prayer-meeting had got along with- 
out him; and when told triumphantly what a "good 
time" they had enjoyed, "Ah," he cried, "I ought to 
have been there ! My children, never tempt me to stay 
away again for any cause!" 

The members of the Tenth Church loved that con- 
ference room with an affection kindred to that of their 
pastor. It was to them what the bivouac and camp- 
fire are to the soldier. So constantly had it been made 
the scene of joyful refreshing, when 

" Heaven came down, their souls to greet, 
And glory crowned the mercy seat," 

that the very walls seemed written over with wondrous 
histories, and every seat brought some incident to mind 
that invested it with undying interest. The Angel of 
the divine presence never seemed to forsake the place; 
and, so far from coming up to it as to an irksome duty, 
they always expected a blessing, and seldom went 
away disappointed. 

The pastor knew its power, and never ceased to em- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 115 

ploy it in strengthening their mutual affection, and 
building them up in their whole spiritual life. The 
effect was manifest. Their interest in each other, 
their desire to be mutually helpful, was peculiarly 
strong ; no people sang oftener or with more sincerity, 

"Blest be the tie that binds 

Our hearts in mutual love ! 
The fellowship of kindred minds 

Is like to that above. 

" We share our mutual woes, 

Our mutual burdens bear, 
And often for each other flows 

The sympathizing tear." 

At the close of the meeting, you did ? not see the 
room cleared in five minutes, — the people hastening 
out as if they had been " despatched," and commanded 
to salute no man by the way. The pronouncing of 
the benediction was the signal for the beginning- of a 
new meeting or of several. One little band would re- 
tire to the Bible-class room to pray with anxious in- 
quirers ; another group would cluster around the pas- 
tor to communicate and receive tidings about church 
work ; another group were whispering together over 
some new enterprise on foot among the young people ; 
others were collecting subscriptions for some poor per- 
son ; others chatting merrily over individual interests ; 



116 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 



while over all would be heard the voices of another 
company of a musical turn, who were off in a corner 
making themselves happy over some new revival 
melody. A half hour, an hour would sometimes run 
on in this way, till the patient old sexton would begin 
to put out the lights, one by one, and the lingerers 
would reluctantly leave just in time to escape being 
locked in. 

How many forms now pass before the writer, of 
those — some of them among the white-robed — who once 
performed prominent parts in those blessed conference 
meetings ! 

There was Deacon W. with his honest English face 
quivering with emotion, and speaking, sometimes, with 
surprising eloquence — a man truly gifted ; and Deacon 
K., small in stature, like Paul, but great in faith, and 
always in his place; and "in the Spirit" too. Captain 
P. a Christian gentleman, who seldom spoke without 
lauding his pastor, and intimating to sinners, that if 
they could not be converted under "such preaching 1 * 
their case was hopeless. Then there was "happy 
Mrs. Wilson," as every body called her, who was 
always "on Pisgah's top;" and other honorable women, 
who nightly brought their " alabaster box of ointment 
very precious," and poured it on the Saviour's head. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 117 

till the fragrance filled all the house where we were 
sitting. 

In one of the meetings, just before the close of the 
service, the pastor remarked, that there was yet op- 
portunity for any brother who desired to speak his 
heart's experience. 

Near the pulpit sat Mr. L , one whom consump- 
tion had set its seal upon. His feeble, faltering 
steps had led him once more to the place and com- 
pany he loved so much. As he rose, his frail body, 
supported by clinging to a pillar near him, his trem- 
ulous tones and gasping utterance, produced im- 
pressions never to be effaced from the memory. He 
said: 

"If ever I have been converted, our pastor was the 
means; but when I clasp his hand in the Celestial City, 
I will say, ' Saved by the grace of God.' If permit- 
ted, I will be at the gates the first to welcome you. 
It has been about fifteen years since I was led to see 
myself a sinner. The holy law of God showed me my 
condition. I saw that his law was perfect; and the 
more I looked at its requirements the more I knew I 
was condemned. I thought, If I could live without sin 
for the rest of my days, what could I do with the past 
sins of my youth and riper years? They were in the 
book of God's remembrance, and the law said, 'Pay 



118 JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 

me what thou owest.' While in this condition I saw- 
in the distance, c One hanging on a tree.' As I stood 
and gazed, the Saviour drew near, and I threw myself 
at the foot of the cross, and prayed that he would cover 
me with the robe of his righteousness. He heard my 
voice and cast it all around me. 

"Since then I have had many changes in my experi- 
ence. But now I have come to the dark river of 
death. I am going down its banks, and it looks so 
wide — and so dark, — and feels so cold, — I shrink back 
from it. But I think I see on the other side the 
Celestial City, and Jesus waiting to welcome me. 
my dear unconverted friends, the river may be running 
nearer to your feet than you are aware ! I am not 
old, and yet it is near me. It is so wide you cannot 
swim it." He closed his remarks amidst the tears and 
sobs of those who heard them. 

The winter before Dr. Kennard died, a large 
number of the young from the Sunday-school were 
converted. One beautiful little boy of only five 
years, constantly attended the services with his moth- 
er ; he was intelligent beyond his years ; and his 
uncommon sensibility to religious truth, attracted the 
pastor's attention. The little boy had besought his 
mother to have prayer offered for him. One evening 
the pastor without any previous intention struck a fine 



JOSEPH H. KEXXARD. D.D. 119 

chord in the hearts of all present by an act, suggested 
by the impulse of the moment. After a solemn appeal 
to those who needed the prayers of God's people, to 
come forward to the front seat, to which there was no 
response, he quietly left the pulpit, went to the first 
pew, lifted the dear child in his arms, and held him 
while he rebuked their impenitence by a simple state- 
ment of the little one's sorrow for sin and desire for 
his heavenly Father's favor. Then solemnly placing 
him on the front seat, he said, "Let us pray for him." 
It was a master stroke, and reminded many who wit- 
nessed it of our Saviour's rebuke to his disciples, when 
he placed a child in their midst, saying, "Except ye 
become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom 
of heaven. ' ' 



120 JOSEPH H KENNARD, D.D. 




CHAPTER VI. 

IN CHURCH TRAINING. 

HE individual Christian does not come forth 



like our first parents in Eden, a perfect na- 
ture in the day of his conversion ; neither 
does the church, the temple of God, appear, like the 
palace of fairy land rising from the sea in full and 
magnificent proportions; columns, wall, dome, and 
adornments complete. The Christian is a growth from 
infancy; the Church is a development under training, 
from ignorance and weakness, from foundations and 
dim outlines, into height and breadth, into symmetry 
and strength. And a pastoral success is not genuine, 
nor permanent if it fails to carry out this divine plan. 
- Dr. Kennard had a reverence for the church. He 
studied with diligence the New Testament model. He 
believed that the Baptist church structure and govern- 
ment approached the nearest to that existing in the 



JOSEPH H. KEXNARD, D.D. 121 

apostolic times; and he sought to train his flock to 
fulfill the Christian ideal. 

He rejected the idea of the ministry being a " pro- 
fession." It was an imperative call from heaven, 
whose response was nothing less than the devotion of 
every power of a man's nature on the altar as a living 
sacrifice for the church's sake. He held high ground 
in regard to the dignity and responsibility of the pas- 
toral office. He was indignant at the suggestion that 
the minister was only "a preaching brother;" — that 
when a church called a man, they simply "hired" his 
brains, or his wit to entertain them, rent their pews, 
and give eclat to their society. He was the Shepherd 
of a flock, the Bishop of the church, the Master of 
assemblies, a Father in Christ's family, yea he was 
God's Ambassador. 

Pastors, in his view, were to be held "in high es- 
teem for their work's sake;" the dignity andauthority 
of the office not being derived from brilliancy of tal- 
ents, or profoundness of learning, or popularity with 
the masses, — all of which would depend on individual 
opinion and taste ; but from the Divine call and the 
fact of an entire sacrifice to the good of men. 

Yet he was at the farthest remove from the charac- 
ter of an arbitrary dictator, "lording it over God's 
11 



122 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

heritage." He did not demand, but inspired rev- 
erence. As a wise master builder, he superintended 
and controlled all the operations of the church. Yet 
no man felt that his privileges or prerogatives were 
interfered with. He secured his object, not like the 
shrewd tactician, by a dexterous movement of men, 
as pawns on the chess-board, but by the weight of a 
judgment they had learned to trust. Though his will 
was, under Christ, always the governing law of the 
church, it was because it was a manifestly wise and 
loving and gentle will. He guided affairs with a mus- 
cular hand, but it was gloved in velvet, not mailed in 
steel. His people believed that he was the truest 
and most infallible friend they had on earth, and did 
their own highest pleasure in following him, even as 
they believed him to have found the footsteps of 
Jesus. Consequently, the name by which they always 
addressed him was " pastor ;" and he loved to hear it, 
as they did to speak it. 

His first aim was to "feed the flock." He knew 
that an ignorant and lean church could be of but 
little service in the world. He led his flock into the 
greenest pastures, and by the most life-giving streams, 
of the divine truth. No one ever knew him to enter- 
tain them with pyrotechnics, when he should have 
been giving them bread. He fed them much on strong 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 123 

doctrine, believing it made spiritual bone and sinew. 
Every little while, especially after a season of a great 
ingathering, he would preach a course of doctrinal 
sermons. 

The announcement of such a course was always 
hailed with gratification by the people, for he excelled 
in the treatment of the grand foundations of Christian 
faith, especially in their practical and experimental 
bearings. 

The idea of bringing the whole church into a Bible 
school was a favorite one with him. At several dif- 
ferent periods he formed a congregational Bible 
class, sometimes on the Sunday afternoon, and some- 
times on an evening of the week. The questions 
were printed, and distributed beforehand among the 
people. One series of lessons, on the Titles of Christ, 
running through a long period and developing much 
of the preciousness of the plan of salvation, is espe- 
cially remembered. The main audience room would 
be filled on Sunday afternoons with those who partici- 
pated in the discussions. These exercises resulted in 
eliciting thought and developing the working talent of 
the church. 

His next endeavor was to draw out their energies 
in healthful and beneficent industry. The idea of 
setting all the members of a church to work is a fami- 



124 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

liar one in our day, but in the early part of his minis- 
try it was a novelty. 

He was one of the first among his contemporaries 
to appreciate the value of the lay element in the di- 
rect work of saving souls and carrying on mission en- 
terprises. He looked upon a gospel church, not as a 
society for mutual enjoyment, or mutual admiration, 
but as a spiritual mechanism for spreading the king- 
dom of Christ. His advanced views will appear the 
more remarkable, when it is remembered that at the 
time he began his ministry the Baptist denomination 
was to a large extent leavened with hyper-calvinism ; 
regarding the church very much in the light of Noah's 
family, shut up by divine sovereignty in the ark, and 
not permitted to launch a skiff or throw out even a 
plank to save a drowning world. With this idea of 
finding something for all his members to do, he would 
call meetings to consult with them ; lay out plans ; or- 
ganize committees on visiting the poor, tract distribu- 
ting, household prayer-meetings, mission Sunday- 
schools, and stations for lay preaching. 

Walking along the streets of Kensington, he sees a 
church advertised for sale, and immediately says, 
"There I will have a mission to these swarming in- 
habitants." The next week the house is engaged, and 
a delegation of his members at work. Again, passing 



JOSEPH H. KEAWARD, D.D. 125 

up a street in Spring Garden, he sees a building just 
being finished, with a fine hall in the second story, 
and no church near. "This," he says, "will be a 
grand field for a Sunday-school." The next Lord's 
Day a meeting is held there, and thirty of his young 
people organized for work. He is called to a house 
of sickness and poverty; all around are the ignorant 
and neglected ; in a few days he has commissioned a 
half-dozen of his members to hold weekly a prayer- 
meeting there. And thus it was through all the 
years. 

With a view to enlist and maintain the interest of 
the church in these various enterprises, he established 
what he called "Spiritual Church Meetings," as dis- 
tinguished from the business meetings. They were 
held once in three months on a Sunday afternoon. 
A large congregation assembled, reports were read 
from various mission schools, church Ministerial Edu- 
cation Society, Tract Society, visitation of the poor, 
&c, &c. These were meetings full of interest and edi- 
fication. 

With equal earnestness he sought to develop a be- 
nevolent spirit in the hearts of his members; and 
having an impression that example lends an emphasis 
to precept, he was accustomed to give to every chari- 
table- object with a spontaneous liberality that often 

11* 



126 JOSEPH H. KEA r NARD, D B. 

embarrassed him when his income was very limited. 
Probably none in the church gave more, in proportion 
to their means ; if, perhaps we may except one, and 
she — his wife. 

He was ingenious in devising methods to stimulate 
their benevolence 1 — when one plan had exhausted its 
novelty, adopting another; appealing to every right 
motive, but dwelling chiefly on the fact that they were 
not their own, but bought with a price; and them- 
selves and their all, a debt due to Christ and his 
cause in the world. 

Another feature of his church training was his care 
for the children. While he "led his flock like a shep- 
herd, he gathered the lambs in his arms, and carried 
them in his bosom." 

At the time when Dr. Kennard began his ministry, 
and for years after, there was comparatively little 
enthusiasm for the conversion of children. Sunday- 
schools were but in their infancy, and in many minds 
there was little confidence in the movement that was 
beginning to manifest itself, seeking to bring the very 
young to Jesus. It was not doubted that a child 
could be converted; for they had illustrations of the 
fact ; but it was regarded as a rare phenomenon, and 
eyed with considerable suspicion. Dr. Kennard had 
from the beginning of his work an enthusiastic belief 



JOSEPH H. EEXNARD, D.D. 127 

that we could not begin too early the direct effort to 
draw the children into the spiritual fold. 

Consequently his relations to the Sunday-school 
were intimate. His heart, ever young notwithstanding 
the constant pressure of care, went out toward the lit- 
tle ones of the flock with peculiar tenderness. The 
children in their homes welcomed his visits ; and in 
the Sunday-school the Superintendent always expected 
to see him for a brief season one part of the day. 
And, oh, how welcome his dear form was, as with be- 
nignant face he walked up the aisle, the children's 
faces brightening as though a sunbeam were passing 
over them ! 

In his addresses to them, he dealt very little in en- 
tertaining anecdotes illustrating the general principles 
of morality, nor had he the superior talent which dis- 
tinguishes some men in talking with the young. His 
addresses were generally of a very serious tone, but 
there was a heart of love in them, that enchained the 
attention even of the infant scholars. He appealed 
much to their conscience and intelligence, and aimed 
to bring them directly to repentance, faith, and sub- 
mission to Christ. 

At times he would appoint meetings for all the 
children who were willing to converse on the subject 
of their salvation. Many attended, chiefly because 



128 JOSEPH JET. KEiVJVARD, D.D. 

they would not disappoint their pastor ; but such occa- 
sions seldom passed away without the awakening and 
conversion of some of the dear youths. 

At one time our mother's attention was drawn to the 
fact that a large number of the sons and daughters of 
the members were growing up in worldliness. She 
and our father often talked and prayed over the fact, 
and she at length drew up a list of the names of those 
over fourteen years, amounting to about one hundred. 
He brought this list before the church at the com- 
munion table, and in an address that will never be 
forgotten, entreated them to join with him in special 
intercessions for their conversion. The hearts of their 
parents were deeply affected; and, doubtless, while in 
the pastor's house prayer was poured forth, in the 
closet and at the family altar, many a home witnessed 
an unusual fervency and solicitude for the youths and 
maidens there. Soon there was manifest a deep feel- 
ins: among; them. One after another came forward to 
seek their Saviour ; and, although some remained un- 
moved and are still strangers to God, a large number 
have since been gathered into the bosom of the church. 
As each one was converted to God, a note of it was 
made in his diary opposite to the parent's name. That 
list is still preserved in the family. 

Two years before his death, in connection with the 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 129 

Superintendent, a meeting was established on one of 
the evenings of the week for the special benefit of the 
youth of the Sunday-school. The exercises consisted 
of singing choice hymns and choruses, led by the 
Superintendent; and an address by the pastor, with 
occasional prayers and remarks from others. This 
meeting was an especial delight to him. "A glorious 
meeting of the youth, — very large," he would record 
in his diary. 

Equally happy was he on festival and anniversary 
occasions of the school. Those were great events in 
the Tenth Church. The classes, coming in with their 
banners and smiling faces, filled the lower part of the 
house nearly to the walls; the "Infant School," 
numbering sometimes nearly two hundred, arranged 
on the platform and pulpit. The pastor in the midst, 
overflowing with satisfaction, as he listened to their 
voices swelling in the hymn, or stood up to receive 
their missionary offerings, enclosed in some beautiful 
emblem. Never off his guard, he was singularly happy 
in his responses. The appropriate word always ready, 
the bright, witty allusion, the quaint suggestion, the af- 
fectionate expression beaming in his face, those children 
will remember when they are gray-browed patriarchs. 

In watching over the religious growth of young con- 
verts, he kept in view the raising up of ministers of 



130 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

the gospel. He anticipated that among the young 
men brought in, the Spirit of God would lead some into 
the work of preaching the word. He gave them to 
understand this in his early conversations with them; 
and when he saw any one of them indicating a strong 
desire to consecrate himself to this great work, he fos- 
tered and directed the impulse. With him the pre- 
sumption was in favor of such a one being called. He 
watched the young man's efforts in the meetings, his 
prayers, his exhortations ; and, if he saw evidences of 
mental qualities that would adapt him to the work of 
preaching, would encourage him to go forward in pre- 
paring himself for his mission. 

Yet he never failed, with wise discrimination, to im- 
press upon such the nature of a divine call as distin- 
guished from a transient enthusiasm, and to urge 
them to a prayerful examination of their motives in 
desiring the office of a bishop. He would " lay hands 
suddenly on no man." However brilliant the talents ; 
however strong the ambition; however high the social 
position ; however complete the intellectual culture, — 
he imperatively required that the candidate should have 
the lowly spirit of the Saviour, zeal for the glory of 
God, aptness to teach, and burning love for souls. 

His interest in students for the ministry during the 
trials of college life was peculiarly deep ; and extended, 



JOSEPH II KEXXARD, D.D. 131 

not only to those of his own church, but to others. 
Some of these latter will look back with pleasure to 
their visit from Rochester, Hamilton, Newton, and 
Lewisburg, to the Missionary Jubilee meetings in 
Philadelphia, in 186-4. The large numbers of delegates 
attending being beyond the accommodations provided, 
the students were likely to be neglected. The idea 
occurred to him of entertaining these young brethren 
in the church. About forty accepted the invitation. 
Comfortable couches were spread for them — pew 
cushions being used for mattresses — on the platform, 
in the choir, and in the pews. For their meals, tables 
were spread in the rooms below. The ladies of the 
church cordially seconding the pastor's ideas, were 
busy all the week providing every comfort, and the 
church presented a scene of pleasant animation. The 
pastor was in his element. As young as the youngest 
of them in his feelings, he yet felt the vast responsi- 
bility of making every one happy. Not a bed was 
improvised, nor a meal served, but he must see that it 
was well done. He never left them at night till they 
were comfortably housed, and was up bright and 
early, ringing them up with a big bell, anxious to 
know how they had rested, and to lead them in 
"family worship." 

It was one of the happiest weeks of his life. And 



132 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 



as to the students — they all fell in love with him. Nor 
will any of them ever forget that farewell meeting, 
when, in response to the expressions of their gratitude, 
he gave them those words of affectionate counsel, and 
dismissed them with a patriarch's blessing. 

The same love for the students caused him to keep 
up a constant correspondence with them while at col- 
lege, advising them as to their religious life and the 
preparation of the heart so essential to their antici- 
pated work. He was ever devising means to meet 
their financial wants, which was no trifling task when 
there would be three or four at the same time at the 
University. He anticipated the time of their return 
at vacation ; received them with open arms ; and would 
have them at once into the prayer-meeting to " exer- 
cise their gifts." 

In such a genial soil as the " Tenth Church," min- 
isterial gifts were soon made manifest, and there has 
probably never been a time for twenty-five years when 
one or more of the members were not preparing to 
preach the gospel of the glory of God. 

There have been in all twenty-five young men 
licensed to preach from under his ministry, all but ten 
of whom were from the Tenth Church. Some of them 
are now occupying influential positions in the denomi- 
nation, and have been very successful in winning souls 
to Christ. 



JOSEPH II KENNAED, D.D. 133 

How much they were led to desire that work by the 
attractiveness of the example they saw continually 
before them, we may not know; certainly their char- 
acters received a marked impress from the traits that 
were so conspicuous in him. 

Dr. Kennard's ideas in regard to ministerial educa- 
tion have been by many misunderstood. He heartily 
believed in a thorough training for a work so impor- 
tant as that of guiding Christ's flock and winning souls 
to heaven. But he objected to the system which re- 
quired every man, whatever his age, opportunities, 
talents, or adaptations, to go through the same course 
of six or eight years in academy, college, and theo- 
logical seminary. He believed some men were called 
of God to be the scholars and theological professors 
of the church — men whose mental structure and affin- 
ities pointed them out as the intellectual athletes, who 
were to contend in the high places of literature for 
the doctrines of the church. And these he would have, 
not only to pass through the full course of university 
training, but devote themselves to life-long studies, 
and instruction by word and pen, in that particular 
department. But he objected to putting men through 
the same course, whose intellectual traits and mani- 
fest affinities marked them out as preachers of the gos- 
pel to the masses of men who are dying for the bread 
of life. 12 



134 JOSEPH H. KENNARB, B.B. 

Independent of theory upon the subject, he accept- 
ed the well known fact, that while a full course of 
classical studies may make keener intellects in some, 
it only- dries up the heart, and cripples the spontane- 
ous energy of others, whom a different discipline would 
have made mighty men of God in the conversion of 
souls. 

He protested against that indiscriminate cry of late 
years, for only a scholastically learned ministry, as 
discouraging to a large class of most worthy men, who 
cannot avail themselves of a full university course, but 
who after two or three years' study of the more essen- 
tial elements of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology 
would do quite as efficient service in their sphere, as 
others with double that amount of university drill. 
He was solemnly impressed with the saying of our 
Master: — "The harvest truly is great, but the labo- 
rers are few;" and he could not endure to see so many 
men puzzling their unmetaphysical brains over the 
dialectics of Aristotle, or the conversations of Greek 
gods, or the problems of Differential Calculus, when 
the whitened harvest was perishing,- and they ought 
to be preaching to some congregation of hungry sin- 
ners, the "unsearchable riches of Christ." 

His views in this respect were regarded by some of 
his contemporaries as scarcely abreast of the age, and 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 135 

even prejudicial to the cause of ministerial education. 
It is a noticeable fact, however, that similar views 
have come to be entertained by many of the most emi- 
nent educators of recent times. A radical revolution 
has commenced in regard to the whole system of edu- 
cation, which bids fair to overturn classical and pure 
mathematical studies from the supremacy they have 
too long held, and subordinate them to the more essen- 
tial acquisition of practical science, as applied to real 
life.* 

He rejoiced in the position that Dr. Wayland took 
upon this, and kindred subjects. The following cor- 
respondence took place between them on the appear- 
ance of the little work, "The Ministry of the Gospel." 

"Philada., October 29th, 1863. 
" Rev. F. Wayland, D.D. : Dear Sir : — I have read 
your letters on the ' ministry of the gospel ' with the 
deepest interest. On closing the book I gave thanks 
to the adorable Head of the church that your atten- 
tion had been called to the subject, by that holy man 
of God, Deacon Lincoln, and that you had written in 
a fearless, gentle spirit. The book cannot fail to do 
good. 



® Such a revolution is foreshadowed by works like those of Herbert 
Spencer, on " Education ;" " Culture demanded by Modern Life," by 
Prof. Youmans j and the writings of Profs. Tyndall, Faraday, Whewell, 
and others. 



136 JOSEPH H.KENNARD, D.D. 

" You do not over-rate the sad and growing depar- 
ture of our church and ministry from the simplicity 
of the New Testament churches, and their primitive 
Christ-like ministers. 

" The sentiments so well expressed in your letters 
are not new to me. For forty years I have aimed to 
live and labor in accordance with the views you so 
ably maintain. I commenced preaching very young, 
without the advantages of a liberal education. I felt 
the need, but had not the opportunity. This led me 
more earnestly to read and pray over the word of 
God, and to depend on the Master's promised aid. 
With the simplicity of a child, I believed he would 
help me, and he hath helped me. 

" To encourage my brethren to abound in labors, I 
read to them from your book, and they were much 
pleased with the agreement between our course and 
the views you hold in respect to the character and 
work of a gospel church. 

" Your plan of outpost labor and systematic visita- 
tion has been ours from the first, and the churches 
planted were all outposts and Sunday-schools at first. 

" Forgive, dear sir, what seems like too great free- 
dom in one almost a stranger. 

"Yours very respectfully and affectionately, 

"Joseph H. Kennard." 






JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.J). 137 

This letter, Dr. Wayland received with great plea- 
sure, and promptly answered it. 

" Providence, Nov. 7th, 1863. 

"My Dear Brother: — Your letter reached me 
this evening. I expect to be absent from home on 
Monday, and I do not like to write letters on the 
Lord's Day, so I answer it immediately. 

" Your letter was to me as cold water to a thirsty 
soul. If I know my heart, I wrote from a sense of 
duty. It is a great comfort to me that you think it 
truly needful, and written in a Christian spirit. My 
brother, when I hear the gospel of the Son of God 
spoken of, as a means of a good and genteel living, 
as a stepping-stone to worldly honor, I am shocked. 

"May it please the Holy Spirit to use it, in recall- 
ing the ambassadors of him, who took upon himself 
the form of a servant, to a true view of their responsi- 
bility. 

" The progress of your church and the course that 
you have pursued, is an evidence that I did not err 
in my views ; but that the opinions I have suggested 
are according to the word of God. And, as you have 
written with brotherly confidence, I will do the same 
to you. When I wrote what I did of men, whom God 
had blessed and made his chosen instruments of saving 
souls, you yourself were continually in my mind; so 

J 2* 



138 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

much so that, if I had been called upon in private to 
say who was thus preaching Christ ; if I had answered, 
I should have named you first of all. 

"So my brother let us labor together. I see the 
state of things, and I am tried with the question, 
What can I do to improve it ? Let us labor and pray 
together, and do whatever the Master shall direct in 
his own time ; and, some time or other, good will come 
of it, and his name be glorified, 

"Believe me, yours truly, 

"F. Waylakd." 

The following letter is added, not only as a specimen 
of a number received by him at different times illus- 
trating the esteem in which he was held as a pastor by 
others, but because the plan referred to by the young 
brother is one that he greatly favored as a part of the 
education of men for the ministry : 

Dear Sir: — "I take the liberty, although a stran- 
ger to you personally, of making a few inquiries on 
some matters of interest and importance to myself. 
I am a young Baptist minister, of limited experience ; 
and I wish to spend some time where I can profit by 
the counsels and experience of older ministers, and 
especially such as have been eminently successful in the 
work of the preacher and pastor, — a course recommend- 
ed by the Professors of Rochester Theological Seminary. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 139 

"I have completed a full course at Madison Univer- 
sity, and the above named Seminary, and have been 
laboring one year since in Ohio. The Lord has 
granted me far greater success than I had reason to 
expect. One hundred have been added to the churches 
where I have been preaching ; but I have felt that I 
needed to learn many things that could not be gained 
in the Seminary or alone in ministerial labors. I have 
known for several years of your success as a pastor, 
and I have wished to avail myself of certain advan- 
tages which I might obtain by laboring for a time un- 
der your supervision. Is there any way that I could 
accomplish this end ? I am very anxious to do so, if it 
appears to you practicable. Is there not some part of 
the city where labor is needed, and where you might 
start a little interest, and allow me to occupy it in the 
manner that used to prevail some twenty-five or thirty 
years ago?" 

"Yours truly," 

Nor did he forget the young men after they had 
fully entered upon their ministry, but ever showed a 
special desire to favor them on public occasions. " On 
entering upon the pastorate of Sansom Street Church 
in 1835," says Dr. Gillette, "your honored father was 
among the foremost to give me welcome advice and 
aid, and to cheer me in my arduous and responsible 



140 JOSEPH H KENNARD, D.D. 

position. We soon exchanged services, and from the 
hour of my knowing him till 1852, when I left for New 
York, he proved himself my real friend. Indeed, he 
was in an eminent degree the friend, encourager, and 
shield of young men, especially such as were entering 
the ministry." 

In the exercise of discipline in the church, Dr. Ken- 
nard was cautious, pains-taking, and compassionate, 
yet unflinching in maintaining the purity of the 
church. He used often to say, that the principal part 
of discipline should consist in encouraging the weak, 
correcting the errors of the ignorant, expostulating 
with the wayward, and restoring the wanderers. He 
sought to guard on the one hand against neglecting 
those who were out of the way, and on the other 
against too hastily cutting them off. To the end of 
specially looking after this class of members he con- 
ceived the idea of a "Discipline Committee," consisting 
of the deacons and a number of judicious men, whose 
especial business it was to aid him in this oversight of 
the flock. The idea was new at the time when he in- 
augurated his plan, and was thought by some of his 
contemporaries a tendency to Presbyterial customs; 
but it has come to be adopted by a large number of 
churches with salutary effect. The following letter 
will illustrate his spirit," and his method of seeking to 
restore the wandering. 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 141 

" My Dear Young- Brother : — With sorrow of 
heart I have beheld your falling away in your religious 
duties. ***** My dear brother, have you for- 
gotten how happy you were when the Lord called you 
in the Sunday-school, when you were baptized, and 
for years after you joined the church? Surely no un- 
believer can make you doubt that you were happy in 
the service and greatly beloved in the church of 
Christ ? Impossible ! Oh, then, forsake any com- 
pany or amusement, the effect of which is to lead you 
from your Saviour ! 

"Your dear mother is filled with anxiety for the 
son she loves. I have seen her tears for you. 

"Dear C, let me entreat you to return at once to 
duty in the closet and in the church. There are few 
I have loved so much as yourself, and I love you still. 
Come and see me. Let me talk with you. I have 
always been your friend. Call on me soon, very soon. 
"Your Affectionate Pastor, 

"J. H. K." 

"4pn719th, 1848. 

One of the most difficult things in church govern- 
ment is the discipline of persons holding conspicuous 
positions, and having a corresponding influence. But 
one such case occurred during his ministry in the 



142 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

Tenth Church. It was a time of intense excitement. 
It caused him many a sleepless night; yet he main- 
tained that beautiful poise which made him a restful 
centre amid the storm. On the one hand, he was 
manifestly anxious to save the erring; and on the 
other, fixed in his purpose to require repentance and 
confession. As a skillful helmsman he brought the 
good ship through the breakers with only a little 
lightening of her cargo, and received the following 
tribute from the entire church, through a committee 
of their appointment. 

"Beloved Brethren: — It is with no ordinary 
feelings your committee enter on the duty assigned 
them at your late meeting. If we have a just view of 
our appointment, it is, to submit what we believe to 
be the sentiment of the church towards her pastor. 

"Brethren, this church has had but one pastor. 
Through his labors, who is now over us in the Lord, 
this vine was planted, midst hopes and fears, and by 
him watered, midst prayers and toils, whilst the Lord 
hath given us great increase. 

" As a church we haye been called to pass through 
a fiery trial, the severity of which our pastor has 
more particularly felt in consequence of his official 
station. We believe an expression is due our pastor 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 143 

from the church, that she holds him in the highest 
affection and estimation for his work's sake, as a pastor 
and minister of the new covenant. And, furthermore, 
we believe it is the will of the Great Head of the 
church, that he should continue to break unto us the 
bread of life and administer the word as the Lord 
shall give ability; and we are happy in the thought 
that we have the voice of the entire church, and we 
may say of the congregation also, who ever hang on 
the word as it falls from his lips, and listen to the 
instruction in righteousness, with the abiding impres- 
sion that he seeks their best interests. 

"As a church, we have reason to humble ourselves 
before the Lord, on account of our many sins and de- 
linquencies in the midst of so many blessings. 

"We feel that we are under great obligations to 
consecrate ourselves, individually, soul and body, to 
the service of God ; and that we should unitedly come 
up to the help of the Lord, and sustain our beloved 
pastor by our presence, our efforts, and our prayers. 
We would recommend the following resolutions : 

" Resolved, That we sympathize with our pastor, in 
the trials and cares which have recently oppressed his 
mind, in more than an ordinary degree, and will ex- 
tend to him our co-operation in every department of his 
responsible duties and station. 



144 JOSEPH H. KENNARJ), D.D. 

"Resolved, That it is expedient to observe a season 
of fasting and prayer, that the Lord may graciously 
pardon our sins, and revive his work in our midst, and 
thus restore unto us the joys of his salvation. 

" Thomas White, 
"Edward Banister, 
"Henry C. Harrison." 

It may be remarked that a gracious Grod showed his 
approval of the course that had been pursued, by im- 
mediately pouring upon the church his reviving in- 
fluence ; and a most blessed season of refreshing and 
conversion ensued. 

The history of the Tenth Church has been eminently 
distinguished for peace, unity, and brotherly kindness. 
Its members were always extremely reluctant to with- 
draw from it, even when distance rendered it expe- 
dient ; and in those cases where colonies went forth to 
set up the standard in other places, they showed their 
feeling to be, not that of dissatisfaction or alienation, 
but a sense of imperative duty alone. The Kensing- 
ton Colony wrote thus to the mother church in ask- 
ing a letter of dismission. 

"We do not this from any diminution of attachment 
to our pastor, whom we love as our spiritual father ; 
or to the brethren, to whom we feel bound by a thou- 



JOSEPH H. KENNABD, D.D. 145 

sand tender ties; but we believe that we .are required 
by the great Head of the church to labor for the sal- 
vation of our fellow-men, and, when Providence indi- 
cates duty, to make sacrifices of feeliDg and of per- 
sonal convenience, for the general interests of the 
kingdom of Christ." 

Those who severed their connection to form what is 
now called the Broad Street Church left with these 
affecting words : 

"We leave an affectionate brotherhood, who unitedly 
and statedly serve the living God. We leave a godly 
and affectionate pastor, who has faithfully distributed 
unto us the truth as it is in Jesus. We leave an at- 
tractive and commodious house of prayer, where we have 
ofttimes met with Jesus. But, though we may have a 
stone pillow for our weary heads, we will endeavor to 
climb up Jacob's ladder, and see what the Lord will 
work for us." 

Similar sentiments were expressed by those who 
formed the Spring Garden Church,* and the others, 
and were heartily reciprocated by those who remained 
in the old homestead. 



*In reference to the formation of this church he wrote to us: "The 
work of colonizing goes on slowly; few can be induced at the last to 
sever their connection with ' home ;' but I am going to hold a meeting 
to-night, in the church on Thirteenth street, and hope to persuade others 
to give in their names." 

13 



146 JOSEPH H. KENNARB, D.D. 

In conclusion, we may remark, that perhaps no fact 
proves more clearly the character of a church's training 
than its condition after the pastor of many years has 
been called away. There are some churches that ap- 
pear to nourish and increase in numbers, but to be 
built up around the minister, rather than around the 
cross; and when he is removed they crumble away. 
And there were some who looked on when the pastor 
of the Tenth Church fell, and predicted that his large 
membership would be scattered. The result has not 
justified their fears. As a wise master-builder, he had 
founded those living stones, not upon himself, but on 
the " Chief Corner-stone ;" and the whole building was 
" fitly framed together and compacted," so that, though 
trembling in every part beneath the shock that it suf- 
fered in his death, it stood firmly, lovingly united. 
Its devotional meetings have been fully attended, and 
all the spiritual forces of the church have performed 
healthfully their respective functions; and its mem- 
bers solemnly girded themselves to maintain and 
advance that cause to which their beloved pastor con- 
secrated his life, as the noblest tribute they can ren- 
der to his memory. 



JOSEPHH. KENNARD, D.D. 147 



CHAPTER VII. 
IN PUBLIC RELATIONS. 




HILE devoting his life supremely to the work 
of his own church, Dr. Kennard was inti- 
mately connected with all the general denom- 
inational interests. His early relation to the State 
Missionary Association has been already referred 
to. 

The report of the society for 1866 says of him : 
"Dr. Kennard was deeply interested in all the opera- 
tions of this Convention, he was one of its fathers ; was 
instrumental in its organization ; was its first General 
Agent, traversing the bounds of the Philadelphia As- 
sociation, and awakening the churches to interest in 
its behalf. Up to the day of his death, he served as a 
member of its Board of Managers, being deeply en- 
gaged in all that related to the spread of the Redeem- 
er's kingdom throughout the state. * * He fell at 
his post with his harness on." * * 

With the Philadelphia Association he was iden- 



148 JO SEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

tified from a very early period of his ministry. In 
1819, he was commissioned to that body as a repre- 
sentative of the Delaware Association; and, in 1821, 
from the New Jersey Association. On the Wednesday 
evening of the session, the five Baptist churches then 
in Philadelphia, were all opened, and ministers from a 
distance were invited to preach in each of them. The 
fame of the youthful herald had gone before him, and 
he was sought for to preach in the New Market 
Street Church. He took for his text on that occasion 
Ps. 80: 19, "Turn us again, Lord God of hosts, 
cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved." This 
was probably, the first sermon he preached in Phila- 
delphia. In 1823, he attended the Association as a 
delegate from the Blockley Church, of which he was 
then pastor. "From that time," says one of the 
clerks, "till his death, he was present at every session 
of that body, and at every session took some prominent 
part." 

His first sermon before the Association was in 1830, 
from Isaiah 2 : 2, " And it shall come to pass in the 
last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall 
be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be 
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto 
it." His last, was preached in 1864, being the "Doc- 
trinal Sermon " on " The Full Assurance of Hope." 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.I). 149 

His interest in the meetings of the Association was 
ever warm. He anticipated their approach with 
mingled delight and anxiety. His church was open 
more frequently than any other for the entertainment 
of the body; and among no people were they received 
with more Christian cordiality. He ever made it his 
care to preserve the harmony and spirituality of the 
meetings. Special prayer would be offered in his 
church, the week previous to the session, that the occa- 
sion might be one of refreshment and edification to all. 
We observed also that he was engaged with special ear- 
nestness in his private devotions as the day would ap- 
proach, and in the family prayers during the session 
his soul would pour out touching appeals for the 
Spirit's presence. 

In all his intercourse with his brethren during the 
meeting there would be manifest a smiling benignity, 
an anxiety to promote each one's enjoyment, and to 
accomplish solid results for the spread of Christ's 
work with the least expense of debate. Probably no 
one man in that large body could carry more influence 
by a few well-timed words of fraternal counsel. But 
it was in the devotional meetings he took the greatest 
delight; and especially in the last meeting of the 
session. 

It was a cherished object with him to preserve the 



150 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

original design of the Association — to hear reports of 
revivals of religion, and to stir up the hearts of the 
delegates by mutual exhortation. In the great en- 
largement of the body, and the consequent multiplica- 
tion of the details of business, this was liable to be 
thrust into a corner. In order to secure a specific 
time for it, therefore, he conceived the idea of devoting 
the last evening of the session exclusively to a devo- 
tional "Conference Meeting," where each might be 
free to relate his experiences of special grace or breathe 
yearnings for a closer walk ; and where, too, the im- 
penitent attending might be exhorted, and special 
prayer be offered for the churches represented and the 
one with which they met. 

The proposition so characteristic of its author was 
heartily responded to, and from that time the Confer- 
ence Meeting has been the most blessed feature of the 
Association. The number attending is greater than can 
get within the doors ; while, as one after another of the 
brethren pour forth their ingenuous utterances and 
fervent supplications, all hearts flow together, many 
eyes stream with tears, many careless ones feel that 
it is none other than the house of God and the gate 
of heaven, warmer love is kindled ; and as they bid 
farewell, each goes home expecting a greater work of 
grace. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 151 

In speaking of the 153d session, held with the San- 
som Street Church, in 1860, the clerk, H. G. Jones, 
Esq., says, "The exercises were of an exceedingly in- 
teresting character; and asthe Fifth Church were about 
to remove from the old meeting-house to their new loca- 
tion at the corner of Eighteenth and Spring Garden 
Streets, the brethren who had long been accustomed 
to meet in Sansom Street, felt that this was the last 
time that they would ever assemble as an Association 
on a spot which, was hallowed by so many sacred mem- 
ories. As is well known, there was a deep religious 
feeling throughout the entire country, and Daily 
Union Prayer meetings were being held in all the 
large cities. 

"Dr. Kennard was one of those who had always 
attended these meetings, and his earnest desire to see 
Christians united in their efforts, induced him to offer 
a resolution which, with some changes, had been 
adopted. He had taken a deep interest in this session 
and as the time approached for the usual Conference 
Meeting on Thursday night, his soul became deeply 
exercised. He had that evening special engagements ; 
but he could not leave the place; and as one after 
another arose to speak he remained to hear. 

"After remarks by Brother Brantly the Moderator, 
Konrad A. Fleischman, and several others, Dr. Ken- 
nard arose and said : 



152 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

'"Brother Moderator, I am obliged to leave. I 
ought to have left some time ago, but I could not 
while dear Brother Fleischman was pouring out his 
heart, and filling our hearts with grateful emotions. 
I cannot leave, according to our rules,, without asking 
your permission ; and more than that I do not want to 
leave until I say "farewell" to this beloved Associa- 
tion, at least for one year. I want to speak a word 
to the beloved church largely represented here, and 
usually meeting in this place ; as this will probably be 
the last opportunity I shall ever have of speaking 
similar words here. In less than a month, I suppose 
this dear church will vacate these pews forever, and 
we know not the destiny of this house of God. My 
thoughts have gone back to the first scenes I witnessed 
in this house; to the time when this floor was one 
story below us, and there stood a great wide-spread 
pulpit. Well do I remember being among the first of 
those occupying a seat in that pulpit, when twenty- 
two ministers sat there, with Spencer H. Cone in the 
midst of them, preaching to an amazing crowd, not 
only in the building, but also in the street, from the 
text, 'And these are the men ivho shew unto us the 
way of salvation. ' And, sir, I recollect in 1820, how 
many venerable men of God met in the Second Trien- 
nial Convention of our Foreign Missionary Society. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 153 

How well I remember a preacher who stood, where 
you stand now, and preached from the words, ' Lord, 
revive thyzvorJc.'' I think I can say without misrepre- 
sentation that that sermon was daguerreotyped on my 
very soul. I remember Luther Rice, standing there 
and speaking for two hours, on the great cause of 
Missions, that had just engaged the attention of Bap- 
tists. 

" 'But, sir, I must not indulge in these reminiscences. 
Though I feel that I am still a young man — and I am 
not an old one — only myself remains of the twenty-two 
ministers, with whom I sat at the time alluded to. 
Brother Joseph Matthias, Brother Horatio Gr. Jones, 
the father of my beloved brother, the clerk of this 
Association, and others were there, but they have now 
all gone to their rest. It seems to me, my clear 
brethren, it would make heaven sweeter if I could get 
among them again. 

"' Brethren, it is scarcely possible that all of us 
will meet again with this Association. I hope to be 
with you next year,- but I may be in the grave. If 
we do not all meet below, shall we all meet above? 
Ministers! saints! people of God! — say sinner, shall 
we meet thee above? 

'"Brethren and sisters of this church, I sympathize 
with you, and I feel the strongest sense of responsi- 



154 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.J). 

bility coming over iny soul when I think of your re- 
moval. I feel as if I was a member with you in the 
responsible movement to Green Hill. We have reason 
to believe that when you remove to that place, you 
will have the people crowding in, and that many pre- 
cious hearts may be brought to the Saviour. I pray 
God that it may be so.' " 

Dr. Kennard was one of the earliest and warmest 
friends of the 

American Baptist Publication Society. 

When it was formed under the name of the Baptist 
General Tract Society, he had but just entered on his 
pastoral work. 

Dr. Gillette, in an interesting letter, speaks of him 
as connected with the Society as early as 1834. "On 
becoming a member of the Tract Society's Board, I 
found J. H. Kennard among its foremost promoters 
and influential counsellors, never absent without good 
cause, ever encouraging those who were hesitant, and 
ready, as he and his church were able, to enlarge its 
means of usefulness. 

"He had been familiar with its origin in Washing- 
ton, D. C, and co-operated in its removal to Philadel- 
phia, and stood prominent with its first agent, Noah 
Davis, and his earliest coadjutors, Samuel Cornelius, 
Wm. E. Ashton, Drs. Staughton, Brantly, and Dagg, 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 155 

Gen. Duncan, R. W. Cushman, J. B. Trevor, Dr. 
Jewell, and others who loved it and did all they could 
to prepare it for that potent agency for usefulness, 
which it has now so happily and gloriously attained. 

11 On religious and benevolent Boards, in committees, 
and in personal intercourse, he was always the modest 
gentleman, the sincere, subdued, cautious, prudent, 
wise, and hopeful Christian. 

"If a tract or a book were to be published, or a 
missionary colporteur to be sent out, he was ever in- 
fluential in seeing that truth was going to be spread 
abroad, and sound doctrine promulged ; and I am con- 
fident that the general evangelical character of the 
publications of our Board during his connection with 
it, and of the churches and pastors in Pennsylvania, 
are as much to be attributed to his loving watchful- 
ness over them, and sincere prayers for them, as to 
any human source." 

For a number of years he was President of the 
Society. Subsequently he was elected chairman of 
the board of managers. He was succeeded in this 
office by that Christian nobleman, John P. Crozer. 
On the death of Mr. Crozer he was again called to that 
position, and presided at the first meeting ; but when 
they met again, he had already gone to his rest. 

Reference has been made in the first chapter to his 



156 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

early labors in company with Luther Rice in advoca- 
ting the cause of 

Foreign Missions. 

In a letter to Dr. Winter, dated June 28th, 1826, 
he says : 

"The growing kingdom of our blessed Lord, with 
the various interesting circumstances attending it, 
should ever excite our wonder, gratitude, and praise. 
It has fallen to our lot to live in a period when the 
Lord is effecting great things. * * * 

"The Missionary cause is great. Like the waters 
of Noah, it will prevail, till it inundates the whole 
earth ; not, however, with a destroying flood, but with 
streams that emanate from the river of the water of 
life. The Burmese war and the war between the 
Greeks and Turks are very important events, and 
controlled by him that sitteth on the throne; and 
will subserve his own divine cause. Oh ! who that 
loves Jesus can survey what is transpiring without a 
joyful heart, or pray without feeling a growing fervor, 
' Thy Kingdom come !' " 

For a long series of years, his church sustained the 
Rev. E. Kincaid,JD. D., the eminent missionary to 
the Burmans; who on his first return to America 
became a member of the Tenth Church. The inter- 
course between him and the pastor was of the most 



JOSEPH H. KEZWARD, D.D. 157 

affectionate character. A constant correspondence 
was maintained between them while Dr. Kincaid was 
abroad. On his first return, after years of heroic ser- 
vice amidst unknown perils. Dr. Kennard poured out 
his heart as follows : 

"MaijAth, 1843. 

" My dear Brother Kincaid: — Welcome, thrice 
welcome, to your native land! Heaven bless you with 
renewed health, and abundantly prosper your visit ! 

" We have waited your arrival for weeks, and were 
becoming anxious about your safety; but the Lord is 
better than our fears. 

"I did not hear that you had landed until yester- 
day, and nothing but the impression that you have 
already left for Boston could restrain my coming to 
meet you at New York. But I trust we shall shortly, 
very shortly, see you in the city of ' Brotherly Love.' 
On the receipt of this, do write me, and let me know 
when we may expect you; and grant me the favor of 
making my house your home. We have every con- 
venience, and shall esteem.it a privilege to have you 
with us. My wife and children, Dr. Jewell, your old 
friend, and Mrs. Jewell are all filled with joy in the 
hope of seeing you soon. My whole church from the 
account I have given them of your labors are exceed- 
ingly anxious to see you. We number nine hundred 
14 



158 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

in membership, are a young church, and I wish every 
member to be baptized with the mission spirit. One 
visit from you will do wonders for us. 

"Come, dear brother, as soon as possible. Spend 
a part of the first Sunday with my church by all 
means. The young brother by whom I send this 
expects shortly to go on a Foreign Mission ; he is one 
of my children, (J. Sexton James.) The children of 
Bro. Price, late missionary in Burmah, are both mem- 
bers of our church. Come and see them. One 
expects to go back to Burmah. But I must close, 
hoping to see your face shortly. 

"Your old and very affectionate friend, 

" Joseph H. Kennard." 

He was among the first to grasp the idea of train- 
ing the young in the missionary spirit ; and there are 
not a few, now in middle life, who will remember how 
as little children they used to bring their "missionary 
boxes," on anniversary days to the pastor's house, 
and, as with affectionate delight he received their of- 
ferings, how he sent them away with some little book 
as a present, and his blessing on their head. 

"We well remember how enthusiastic he was over 
Oncken's work in Germany, and Evan Jones' among 
the Cherokees, and Wiberg's in Sweden. We remem- 
ber how he first began to discern in the last, beneath 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 159 

his great modesty and imperfect language, the ele- 
ments of power which have since made him the Apos- 
tle of Sweden. 

We must notice also his important relations with the 
Home Mission and .the Bible Societies. 

He was in sympathetic fellowship with such men 
as "Father Bennett," " Father Peck," Dr. Leonard, 
J. M. Peck, and other pioneers of the cause in the 
"West. His house was often their home in the early 
part of his ministry, and often would he sit in happy 
converse with these noble men till late in the night. 

Dr. Kennard was at an early period of his life iden- 
tified with the 

Temperance Reform. 

Indeed he was a pioneer within the religious circle 
in which he then moved. 

At the time of his settlement near Philadelphia, 
public sentiment on this subject was very low. 
Drunkenness was indeed considered a calamity, and 
even a sin ; but total abstinence was almost unknown. 
In the church, the standard was but little higher than 
through the community generally. It was not an 
unusual thing for leading members to be engaged in 
liquor manufacture, and its indiscriminate traffic. 
Sometimes the treasurer of the fund for the poor 
would be a public dispenser of that which is the fruit- 



160 JOSEPH If KENNARD, JD.D. 

ful source of most of the poverty in the world ; and 
more than one case was known, of a deacon dispen- 
sing the communion at the church, while his bar-tend- 
er would be dealing out the intoxicating draught at 
home. These instances, while exceptional as com- 
pared with the great body of the church, were suffi- 
ciently numerous to reveal the state of sentiment 
which permitted such scandals. Indeed, almost every 
family had its home-made fermented drinks ; and many 
of them, especially if in prosperous circumstances, 
their distilled liquors also. The ministers were 
scarcely more abstemious than the average of their 
members. In making the round of pastoral calls, it 
was deemed but a part of hospitality to bring out 
the decanter and glasses. " The Elder must be 
tired, — this would refresh him." Or "it was hot, — 
this would cool him." Or "it was cold, — this would 
warm him up." Or it was our "fresh brewed, — and 
he must give his opinion of it." The result was, that 
after a half-dozen calls, the minister taking a glass at 
each, — "for politeness' sake; not that he craved it at 
all," — would sometimes experience an exhilaration of 
spirits, or a confusing of his perceptions, that would in- 
terfere with an entirely sedate carriage on the way home. 

Our young pastor was deeply exercised in mind over 
this state of things, and especially in consequence of 

tain instances of actual intoxication, on the part 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 161 

of otherwise estimable brethren, that had. fallen under 
his own notice. 

He resolved to plant himself openly on the Total 
Abstinence ground, and throw the whole of his influ- 
ence against the use of that which could degrade the 
noblest of men, and bring the cause of Christ into dis- 
repute. 

The ministers of the adjacent towns were accus- 
tomed, as now, to have a Monthly Conference. Their 
numbers being limited to about a dozen, they met at 
each other's houses. It was regarded as a part of the 
entertainment to bring out the various drinks, and a 
cordial invitation was given to those present to "make 
themselves free." Unfortunately, some would respond 
to the invitation too cordially. He determined upon 
one such occasion, that when the conference should be 
held at his house he would offer them no liquor. In 
this his wife, the hostess, earnestly coincided with 
him. 

The youngest of them all, and possessed of a great 
reverence for his elders, it was not without a struggle 
that, after setting before them some innocent refresh- 
ment, he informed them that there would be no wine 
or brandy, that for his own part he had resolved upon 
entire abstinence from all that could intoxicate. 

Some looked upon the act as the result of youthful 
14* 



162 JOSEPH IL KENNARD, D.D 



enthusiasm ; a few were a little touched, as though some 
reflection had been implied upon their conduct ; but 
generally the act was approved. The next one who 
entertained the Conference was the Rev. J. L. 
Bagg, who heartily followed up the step taken by Mr. 
Kennard, and banished the liquor from the table. 
And such was the force of their example that the 
custom was from that time abandoned. 

He was equally earnest in enforcing temperance in 
his church in after years. 

The late Rev. Wm. S. Hall, who, about the time 
here referred to, was licensed to preach under his 
ministry, stated, that he was very strongly indoctrin- 
ated with the sentiments of his pastor. On one occa- 
sion, attending a conference in an adjoining county, 
and sitting down to dine with a number of the promi- 
nent ministers of the time, he saw on the table the 
decanter full of brandy. He instantly protested 
against its remaining there. " Pho ! pho !" cried an 
eccentric elder, "nonsense, boy ! hold your tongue!" 
But the young "Timothy" was resolute; and finding 
his protest laughed at and frowned down by the rest, 
he rose from his seat, went over to the inn, and got 
his dinner alone, having for his dessert a clear con- 
science. 

The pastor frequently preached upon the subject 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D D. 163 



during his minister, believing it to be a legitimate 
part of his work, and was always regarded by the 
friends of the temperance movement as one of the 
staunchest and most reliable of its advocates. 

In the year 1851, when a large number of the min- 
isters of various denominations met to consider the 
desirableness of securing a prohibitory law, like that 
in Maine, for the State of Pennsylvania, they showed 
their appreciation of his services in the cause, by 
electing him their President by acclamation. 

Observing with solicitude the recent increase of in- 
temperance, and one of the fruitful causes of it, he, 
at the last meeting of the Philadelphia Association 
which he attended, offered and advocated with fervor 
the following resolutions : 

"Whereas, The drinking of intoxicating liquors as a 
beverage is an alarming evil, and at the present time 
vastly on the increase in the social customs of re- 
spectable society, thereby insinuating itself into our 
churches, therefore, 

"Resolved, That this Association recommend her 
ministers to raise the warning voice in their pulpits 
against receiving or handling the social glass. 

" Resolved, That this Association urge upon the 
members generally the solemn responsibility of their 
example in personally abstaining, and their influence 



164 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

to restrain the ravages of intemperance around them, 
and that they request especially the merchants to con- 
demn the system of soliciting custom by clerks offer- 
ing the tempting cup, — so common in the business 
world." 

Dr. Kennard was also deeply interested in every 
movement designed to secure the 

Proper Observance of the Lord's Day. 

He regarded with gravest solicitude the efforts of 
many to break down the sacredness of the day of rest 
by the running of the street cars, the opening of 
places of amusements, and the drinking saloons. From 
his own pulpit he launched burning words of con- 
demnation at the selfish men, who for gain would sell 
out this inalienable right of humanity to a clay of 
sacred rest and worship. He stimulated the lukewarm 
by his own zeal, and heartily co-operated with minis- 
ters of all the evangelical denominations in securing 
the day for its own beneficent purpose. 

Indeed every humanitarian movement received his 
cordial sympathy. He was not a conspicuous and 
noisy reformer. Yet, with all his meekness and 
modesty, he was a radical in principle on all these 
subjects. He was not seen among the skirmishers 
thrown out on platforms to do the popular speaking, 
but he was found in the councils of war, where the 



JOSEPH JET. KENNARD, D.I). 165 

plans were laid and the solid work of these movements 
accomplished. 

He was at one time greatly interested in a discussion 
between the noted infidel Joseph Barker — since con- 
verted, and become a preacher of the gospel — and a 
distinguished minister of the German Reformed 
Church, Rev. J. F. Berg, D.D., on the Inspiration of 
the Bible. He could not spare the time to attend the 
public debate, nor did he fully accord the expediency 
of taking notice of the boasting skeptic's challenge in 
the presence of such well-known and abounding proofs 
of the divinity of the Scriptures. Yet, as others 
deemed it well to have the infidel's sophistries an- 
swered, he frequently visited the study of the cham- 
pion for the Bible, advised with him, prayed with him, 
and manifested an anxiety for his brother's success, 
as great as if the whole responsibility rested on his 
own shoulders. 

Always a thorough Baptist, his relations to mem- 
bers of other denominations were ever cordial and af- 
fectionate. Prompt to co-operate with them in the 
Christian work of the city, we find him, as far back as 
Nov. 1848, chairman of a committee appointed by a 
large meeting of the ministers of various denominations 
to consider the best means of evangelizing the outly- 



166 JOSEPH R. KENNARD, D.D. 

ing masses of the city. His views are embraced in 
the report which he wrote, closing with the following 
resolutions ; 

"Resolved, That the preaching of the gospel is the 
principal means, divinely appointed for the salvation 
of men ; and whilst it is expedient that churches 
already established, should have pastors and the stated 
ministry, it is also important that some portion of 
each pastor's labors should be devoted to the instruc- 
tion of those who do not attend the ministry of the 
word, or visit the house of prayer. 

"Resolved, That it is desirable to increase, as far 
as possible, the instrumentalities already employed in 
furnishing the destitute with religious instruction ; and 
in distributing evangelical books as a preventive to 
the influence of pernicious publications, so widely cir- 
culating in the community. 

"Resolved, That we feel a deep interest in the dis-. 
tribution of religious tracts, and respectfully recom- 
mend all distributors to accompany the offer of the 
tract with affectionate counsel and exhortation, when- 
ever it can be done with propriety or advantage. 

"Resolved, That we highly value Sunday-schools, 
as well adapted to restrain vice and advance religion ; 
and "recommend the churches to increase their 
number, especially among the poor, and in neglected 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 1G7 

districts; and as the object is the saving of the souls 
of the children, special care should be taken to- secure 
pious and intelligent teachers. 

" Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, 
that much good might be accomplished by committees 
of pious men of talents and influence occupying a part 
of each Lord's Day in visiting places where the youth 
and others congregate to spend their time in sinful 
amusements and crime, and kindly to reason with 
them on the sinfulness of their course, and its sad 
consequences to themselves, and to others, through 
their example and influence. 

" Resolved, That as the neglect and violation of the 
Lord's Day is the fruitful source of many evil works, 
it is of the highest importance that all Christians 
should carefully avoid all acts, personally, and in their 
families, -which may possibly be regarded as an in- 
fringement of God's holy day ; and exert their influ- 
ence on others, to prevent the transaction of worldly 
business, and pleasure excursions on the Lord's Day, 
now existing and increasing to an alarming extent in 
our community. 

" In behalf of the committee." 



"J. H. Kennard, Chairman" 



"Nov. 12th, 1848, 



168 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 



It is doubtful if, after an experience of the past 
twenty years, these suggestions have been materially 
improved upon. 

The establishment of the " Noon Prayer -Meeting" 
in 1857, marked an era in his history. 

He was prominently and enthusiastically identified 
with it from the first. He found here, what his loving 
heart had long yearned for, a broad ground of spirit- 
ual and visible union among the members of the va- 
rious Christian Churches for the highest of objects. 
Here, with no controversies, and with no sacrifice of 
principle, all could cluster around the mercy seat to 
plead for the descent of the Holy Ghost, and the 
spread of the kingdom of Christ. The scenes of that 
meeting, especially during the time it was held in 
Jayne's Hall, demonstrated in a remarkable manner 
the beauty and the power of the evangelical spirit of 
the age. For many a century, such a sight had not 
been witnessed among the followers of Christ. A 
little before the hour of noon, each day, a tide of 
human beings would be seen pressing towards the lar- 
gest hall in the city. The platform is soon filled 
with ministers, embracing all the evangelical denom- 
inations. The audience, numbering four thousand or 
more, fill the en-tire room. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 169 

Then a hymn is announced by the leader — who is 
generally some one just from the midst of merchandize 
and ledgers, or a mechanic who has just laid down the 
trowel or plane — and the voices of the multitude swell 
like the noise of many waters. A few words of divine 
truth are read, followed by three minutes of remark or 
prayer. Then from slips of paper, that have accumu- 
lated on the desk, prayers are asked for a godless 
son, a worldly husband, a church seeking revival, a 
convicted sinner who is in the meeting, etc. Then 
all heads are bowed and all hearts uplifted, while one 
after another briefly, pointedly supplicates the throne. 
Several are on their feet at once, anxious to tell some 
new incident of converting grace, or beg remembrance 
for some cherished friend. The unction of the Holy 
One seems to rest on all; and when the short hour is 
past the crowds reluctantly disperse; some with tear- 
stained cheeks ; some speaking words of hope to a con- 
verted friend; .some, brimming with new-found joy, 
hastening back to their daily toil; and some scattering 
seed by the wayside. Thus, for many months, they met ; 
and the place was precious to him of whom we write. 
When the meetings were removed to the old Sansom 
Street Church, he followed them there. He came to 
be regarded as one of the pillars. " He may be truly 
described," says The Presbyterian, "as the central 
15 



170 JOSEPH H. EEiViVARD, D.D. 

figure there." The widow of Dr. McDowell said, 
"As I attend these meetings, if I see Dr. Kennard 
there, it seems to satisfy me; if not, I look for him till 
he comes; then all seems right." 

Here he met with congenial spirits, among the 
earnest, pure-minded, and prayerful men of various 
denominations; and his heart was knit to theirs, as 
the heart of David to Jonathan. They still speak of 
him in that meeting with tender reverence. Whenever 
he rose to speak all was still ; every eye was fixed on 
him, and many hearts throbbed more warmly for what 
he said. 

For several months, the most impressive remarks 
made in these meetings by the various speakers were 
reported in some of the papers, especially the Sunday 
School Times, from which we gather a few of his ex- 
temporaneous utterances. 

On one occasion he arose and said: "I desire to in- 
quire after that dear young man whose case was men- 
tioned in one of the notes this morning, and for whom 
prayer was asked. His case is peculiar. The note 
stated, that he attends with us here in this daily place 
for prayer, and yet he is unconverted. Oh ! if I knew 
the seat he occupied this morning, I should feel it in 
my heart to go right to him and say, ' What meaneth 
this? What meaneth this?' Coming and going, to 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 171 

a,nd from this place of tlie Holy One, where prayer is 
ascending from so many hearts, and thine prayerless ! 
What keeps thee to this meeting ? Oh, is it not the 
cords of love? Wilt thou break them? Or wilt thou 
yield thy soul to their drawings? dear young 
man, I ask of thee, if present now, not to descend 
yonder, not to go from this room till thy heart is sub- 
mitted to God. Give it right over to Jesus. Give 
thyself a living sacrifice ; and saved or lost do thy 
duty thus far — give over thy entire self to Christ, who 
for thy soul bled on the tree, and stands thy Intercessor 
before the throne. young man, give thyself to 
Christ now. Now is God's time, and God's time is 
the right time." 

At a later period he said: "It has become with me, 
brethren, a question of deep and solemn interest, why 
it is that the saving and converting grace of God does 
not appear in this meeting from day to day more than 
any open evidence of the fact presents itself to our 
view. On that point I am troubled — my soul is 
oppressed. Here are hundreds every day. In that 
number are a great many praying souls, and, also, we 
may suppose, scores of unconverted hearts. From 
day to day we hear of the power of this meeting afar 
off. Letters are read and public acknowledgments 
made of its bless 3d influence far away, but I fail to 



172 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

hear any rising up to say, 'Pray for my soul.' I 
fail to hear instances of immediate conversion here. 
When the primitive ministers and sons of God met 
they expected immediate conversions ; even before 
they left the place of assemblage did they look for 
sinners to be converted — and they witnessed it. Now 
I fear there is fault with us who usually pray and 
speak, and should perhaps have control of the matter. 
I think we ought to have conversions, or deep, solemn 
awakenings in this meeting every day: and it does 
seem to me — I speak it with diffidence — that we ought 
to have a place for the anxious to go at the close of 
the meeting for religious conversation. What we want 
is more faith to believe that God will provide these 
cases if we only make provision to meet them. Let 
us believe there are souls in this house now who are 
seeking Jesus, and if there be such a one, may he not 
leave till some friendly hand has been offered and some 
words of counsel given. sinner, did you hear the 
hymn that we sang this morning, ' Delay not ; delay 
not?' For God's sake delay not ! This very meeting 
may rise up to your condemnation at the last, if you 
do not heed the warning." 

Often when the faith of this praying band grew 
weak, as their numbers diminished, he would seek to 
cheer them thus. 



JOSEPH B. KEAWARD, D.D. 173 

"Know, brethren beloved, that 'Your labor is not 
in vain in the Lord.' How pleasant it is to hear the 
tidings we have heard this morning of the conversion 
of that young man in the navy, prayed for in this 
meeting this week ! And of that family, too, convert- 
ed through the prayers of this meeting ! But brethren, 
we ought to remember this, that, in many cases, 
prayers offered here or elsewhere, and labors put forth 
here or elsewhere, may not come to our knowledge for 
many years — perhaps may not be developed till we 
may lie low in the grave. 

"Last Lord's Day week, after preaching in my own 
pulpit, a gentleman, a stranger, approached me, and 
said he could not leave the house till he said to me, 
' Twenty years ago, a sermon you preached here was 
the means of my conversion to God. I have never 
seen you since, but I must tell you now.' 

"Last night in my prayer-meeting, a gentleman 
stated that thirteen years ago he gave a boy Dod- 
dridge's 'Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul.' 
That boy gave it to his father, an unconverted man. 
Day before yesterday the gentleman said, he was ri- 
ding out in the country when he saw a man sitting on 
the step of his own house reading a book. He recog- 
nized the man, was satisfied that he knew him, 
alighted from his carriage, and offered him his hand. 

15* 



174: JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

The man said, i I do not know you, sir.' He then re- 
lated the fact of his giving this book to his boy, his 
son. 'Oh,' said the man, 'here's the book. This is 
the second time I am reading it through, and God has 
blessed it to my soul's conversion.' 

" Brethren, the seed may lie long buried in the 
dust, but it will not deceive our hope. It will bear 
fruit. mothers, some of these dear sons, that with 
throbbing hearts you bring to us that we may aid you 
in your prayers, may not be converted till your heads 
are in the grave; but God will live to convert them, 
and Christ will live to save them, though you die 
without seeing the blessing. God grant that we may 
labor without ceasing, and wait God's gracious time 
to cause the labor to be productive, and result in sal- 
vation !" 

One Saturday he said : " A little girl last evening, 
relating before the church which I serve the experi- 
ence of her conversion to God, was asked for the com- 
mencement of the work of which she was speaking, 
and of which she gave a most satisfactory account. 
She said, that several months ago her class in Sunday- 
school were all unconverted. They parted on Sun- 
day, and one of their number died before Monday 
night. That dying child sent to her class the message? 
that they should not neglect salvation as she had 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.B. 175 

done, but prepare to meet their God. Since that 
time three of her class have been converted, and this 
dear youth was one of the number. 

" Dear teachers! Go into your class on the mor- 
row with the impression that some one of its members 
may die before you meet them again; and speak as 
you will wish you had spoken should your words prove 
the last they are permitted to hear from your lips." 

He thus touchingly referred to the death of King- 
man ISTott: — "I am deeply impressed this morning 
with the importance of ministers being actively and 
fervently engaged in the prosecution of every day's 
labors. I hope I am always impressed with this fact, 
bnt I am unusually so this morning. It is because of 
an incident which saddens our hearts in no ordinary 
degree — one which perhaps many of you have before 
this heard and lamented. I refer to the sudden death, 
by drowning, of the Rev. Mr. Nott, pastor of the 
Broome Street Baptist Church, of New York City. 

" That lovely young man, only some twenty-six years 
of age — called to the pastorate of that important 
church a year before he left college, by reason of the 
great promise he gave of talent and usefulness ; which 
promise has been realized in his two years' labor with 
them, in the highest degree — one of the most lovely- 
spirited of men; a man well adapted to the times in 



176 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

which we live in every respect; with a large fraternal 
heart ; engaging in every enterprise of a union char- 
acter heartily; rising as the sun in the ministry, at- 
tracting crowds to his large place of worship, is dead ! 
He went into the Karitan to bathe, on Thursday af- 
ternoon, I think, and suddenly sank to rise no more. 

" One of the most solemn admonitions to ministers 
that I have met with for a long time. It carries my 
thoughts back to the beloved Spencer, of Liverpool ; 
there seemed to be a resemblance in the two cases. 

"0 brother ministers, let us be admonished to be 
up and doing, for ' we know not the day nor the hour.' 
That dear young man preached at Amboy on Wednes- 
day night, little thinking that a waiery grave would 
be his the next clay. Let us all go into our pulpits on 
the morrow, and with this circumstance on our memo- 
ry and our hearts, let us preach as for eternity." 

"Never while memory performs her office," — says 
one of another denomination, "can we forget that ven- 
erable form, that heavenly expression of countenance, 
those pleading, tearful tones, that went straight to the 
heart, as he testified to the unwonted joys of his soul 
in those sweet hours of communion, as he plead with 
impenitent sinners, as he brought glad news of the 
Holy Spirit's work in other parts of the land, or de- 
clared his overflowing love for the brethren of differ- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 177 

ent denominations with whom he rejoiced to commune 
in those meetings." 

The writer will never forget how, on his first ap- 
pearance in that meeting after his father's departure, 
on being introduced as "good Dr. Kennard's son," 
the people flocked around him at the close; — each re- 
calling with tender feeling something that his "dear 
father " had said or done in that room, that had made 
his memory fragrant. We were informed, that, for 
many weeks after his decease, not a meeting was held 
but some reference was made to him in their remarks 
or prayers. 

With reference to the true principle of Christian 
union, he made some interesting and appropriate re- 
marks, on the occasion of the second convention of 
the friends of Noon Prayer-Meetings — remarks which 
should be held in remembrance: "I rejoice in every 
right step that advances us to its attainment, but let us 
not press things beyond their natural growth. Christian 
Union is to me like a beautiful white rose-bud. Leave 
it to the influence of the sun, and it will expand its 
leaves into full bloom; but if, impatient, we attempt 
to pry its leaves open with a knife, the flower is muti- 
lated and withers in our' hand. Let us be patient, my 
brethren, our resolutions and creeds will not do this 
work. Let us continue to keep our hearts open to the 
Messed Spirit and he will bring it to pass." 



178 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 



IN WAR TIMES. 

As a Christian patriot lie watched the development 
of the great struggle between the two sections of the 
nation, with a sleepless eye; and saw with solicitude, 
the portentous clouds gathering in the horizon. He 
writes in his diary, "January 4th, 1861, National Fast 
day. Meetings three times. Never since the estab- 
lishment of our Government has there been so alarm- 
ing a time. Unless the Lord helD, civil war must 
soon come." Again January 30th, "My country still 
in peril ! — We know not what moment war may begin 
— Lord, save the nation ! Vain is the help of man. 
President and Congress confounded." 

Fully alive to the abominations which the system of 
slavery allowed, he believed with many others, that 
multitudes of the slave-holders were anxious to be de- 
livered from the incubus that was on them. Hence he 
was an enthusiastic advocate of gradual emancipation, 
and one of the earliest supporters of the society for 
colonizing the negroes in Africa. He believed that 
denunciation and abuse, with masked plots for run- 
ning off the slaves, only tended to rivet their chains, 
and defeat wiser plans for their liberation. 

Yet this fact did not prevent him, when the issue 
finally culminated, from fixing, without hesitation, the 
responsibility of the rupture where it essentially be- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 179 



longed. His diary contains evidences of the amaze- 
ment and indignation which he felt at the first blow 
that was struck. 

The blood warmed in his veins, and his eye kindled, 
as he read the Proclamation of the President, calling 
for seventy-five thousand men for the defence of the im- 
perilled government ; and he hailed with enthusiasm the 
first regiments that marched through Philadelphia to 
protect the Capitol ; and when our armies met with re- 
verses, we have known him to walk the floor powerfully 
agitated, and weeping with shame and grief. 

Yet there was a supremely religious tone in his pa- 
triotic enthusiasm. His constant appeals to his people 
to do their utmost to sustain the Government, were al- 
ways coupled with the exhortation to enter into their 
closets, and invoke the mercy of heaven on their ene- 
mies; and daily at the family altar did he invoke the 
God of battles to bring the struggle to a speedy and 
righteous issue. 

He felt personally interested in every regiment that 
was raised in the city and dispatched to the seat of 
war. When they would visit his church, while await- 
ing orders, he never failed to address them with inspi- 
ring words. He solemnly charged his own young men, 
while parting with them, to do their whole duty as 
Christian soldiers; nor did they forget the charge, as 
their noble record shows. 



180 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

At one time he presented each one of a company 
made up in his immediate neighborhood, with a Testa- 
ment; and as the good man went from soldier to sol- 
dier, as they stood in rank, handing each one that 
precious gift with a kindly word, not a few flashing 
eyes grew moist. 

The regiment to which this company belonged, was 
afterward stationed for a time in Washington, and a 
familiar letter from a pastor there, to him says; 
"Lieut. Sloan has been to see me twice; on Tuesday 
evening last, he came to prayer-meeting with about 
forty of his men, and spoke and prayed. Of course 
the Tenth Church and Father Kennard formed the 
staple of his remarks. Indeed, he quite broke down 
on ' Father Kennard,' and blubbered before all his men. 
Had to use a handkerchief myself a little. The boys 
said, they had their Bibles which you gave them, 
and read them too. Not being well versed in the 
Scriptures, however, some of them seem to have con- 
fused ideas about Father Kennard and the Apostle 
Paul; not being able always to tell t'other from which." 

" Were I twenty years younger," he cried, while 
exhorting his congregation to do their duty, " I would 
shoulder a musket and go myself." On one occasion, 
the ministers of the city in large numbers were assem- 
bled to pray for the deliverance of the State from in- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 181 

vasion The army under Gen. Lee had made a des- 
perate advance across the border and were threatening 
Philadelphia, while a strange apathy rested on the 
people. At the close of the meeting, the ministers 
resolved that thej would go in a body, and offer them- 
selves to the Mayor of the city to work in the 
entrenchments, or in any other way to serve their 
country. Dr. Kennard was among them. The sight 
was thrilling indeed. These servants of heaven's 
King — men of peace, yet burning with patriotic loyal- 
ty, — they marched down the principal thoroughfare 
arm in arm, a hundred of them, many with white hairs 
streaming in the wind, the benignant countenance, 
now irradiated with a glowing zeal and determination 
to do their whole duty in the emergency. On they 
marched, the blessed old flag floating over them, 
believing they were following the Prince of peace, who 
was a patriot as well as a Saviour. They were re- 
ceived by the Mayor with distinguished consideration. 
He assured them that he honored their spirit — mani- 
fested, not only on this, but other occasions, and that 
in case of need their services should be called for. A 
member of the Tenth Church stood that day at one of 
the corners, and caught sight of his pastor in that pro- 
cession. He hastened home, saying, " This is too much 
for me ; good bye, wife and children, I'm off to the 
front!" 

16 



182 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

Nor did he forget the war worn men when they re- 
turned wounded and sick to the hospitals. Many a time 
was he found by the side of the suffering braves, min- 
istering in the offices of our holy religion. From his 
church went forth each Sunday, missionaries to the 
camps of the convalescents and the recruits, holding 
forth the word of life; while among the ministers of 
the city who occasionally visited the hospitals to 
preach, no form was more welcome, nor any voice 
listened to with more eagerness than his. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 183 




CHAPTER VIII. 

IN PRIVATE MINISTRATIONS. 

HE true shepherd of souls has only begun his 
work, when he has preached the sermon on 
the Lord's Day. Then he addresses men in 
the mass. But there is a personal application of the 
gospel message to individual hearts, in all the range, 
of their private experience. 

The failure in the pastoral work of many otherwise 
able and laborious men lies in this, the inability to 
get any nearer to their people than the height and dis- 
tance of the pulpit desk from the pew. They preach 
noble sermons, and are not without appreciative hear- 
ers. They write for newspapers and reviews, and find 
readers; they influence the public mind for good by 
platform addresses on important occasions ; and in all 
these ways they have their fruit. Bat in the pastoral 
work — so far as it consists in private ministrations — 
their heart is not in it, and their efficiency is very 
limited. 



184 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, P.P. 

Dr. Kennard aimed to be, not only the preacher, 
but the father of his flock. Says Dr. Babcock: " In 
editing the memoir of the late John M. Peck, D. D., I 
found among his journals repeated testimonies to the 
high esteem in which he, as well as all with whom he 
mingled, held Dr. Kennard. Nor could I withhold one 
of these testimonies, in which he calls him a Model 
Pastor. I was once present with a few brethren when 
Dr. Kennard was reminded of this testimony in his 
behalf. With characteristic modesty and self-depreci- 
ation he replied : < Oh, my dear brother Peck had bet- 
ter spoken of me as but a moderate pastor.' As one 
who lovingly and faithfully watched for souls, expect- 
ing to give account, he has certainly left no superior 
and few equals." 

His sympathies were quick, broad, and efficient. 
While sensitive and perhaps timid about approaching 
others unasked, no heart opened its doors to him which 
he disdained to enter. He gave himself to the people, 
and they literally took possession of him. 

The home was a kind of religious dispensary, com- 
bined with a court of" equity, where every kind of spir- 
itual malady and personal difficulty was brought for 
advice ; and the multitudes who came with their va- 
ried wants remember how gentle, courteous, and af- 
fectionate was their reception. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 185 

His own church furnished many of these visitants. 
But what numbers came from other churches, other 
denominations, and from all the conditions of social 
life! Some were cases of chronic religious despon- 
dency, and some of great backsliding. Some brought 
their doubts about doctrines, and some their perplexities 
about duty. Ministers in trouble with their churches, 
and deacons in trouble with their ministers ; cases of 
family trouble, and of public defamation ; people with 
cracked reputation, and people with damaged brains ; 
all had an idea that "Brother Kennard " could give 
them some helpful advice, or at least some healing 
sympathy. 

But by far the largest number of those to whom he 
privately ministered, were those denominated "Anx- 
ious Inquirers." They would come in with a timid 
ring of the bell, and with sad, questioning looks. He 
generally knew them at a glance, and sitting down be- 
side them, would encourage them to tell their simple 
stories. " They were in the church on Sunday ; they 
heard him preach that sermon ; they felt they were 
great sinners ; since then they could find no rest, — 
what must they do to be saved?" This was the sub- 
stance of the oft repeated story. To him it was al- 
ways fresh, and always welcome. 

In dealing with the "Awakened," what responsibil- 
16* 



186 J OSEPH H. KENJSTARD, D.D. 

ity is involved — what skill required ! It has been said 
that a surgeon should have the heart of a lion and the 
hand of a woman. But if such qualities are needed 
in the delicate and perilous operations on human bod- 
ies, what traits should he possess, who is to be the in- 
strument of conducting that mysterious operation, by 
which men are born of God, and transformed from sin 
to holiness! What discernment, to distinguish between 
the work of the Holy Spirit, and the movements of 
carnal fear ! What faithfulness, to deepen the convic- 
tions of sin by the unfolding of the law, lest the hurt 
of the soul be healed slightly ! And yet what caution 
not to break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking 
flax ! What fresh experience of the love of Christ, to 
sweetly constrain others to repose in it ! What patience 
with the ignorant and the irresolute! What compas- 
sion for the heavy-laden and disheartened ! 

Dr. Kennard seemed to possess, to a degree seldom 
seen, the combination of mental and moral traits that 
fit a man for such delicate, difficult work. He pos- 
sessed pre-eminently the ivisdom that winneth souls. 

So highly did his brethren in the ministry appreci- 
ate this fact, that in a time of general religious interest 
among the churches, the Philadelphia Association re- 
quested him to write an essay on " The Method of Deal- 
ing with Anxious Inquirers." In compliance with 



JOSEPH JET. KENNARD, D.D. 187 

which request, he read a paper* at their next annual 
meeting, when it was received with every mark of ap- 
probation, and ordered to be printed. 

Another of the marked characteristics of his private 
ministrations, was his power in prayer. He was con- 
tinually visited and written to by those who seemed to 
have an almost superstitious confidence in his influence 
at the court of Heaven; and he frequently had occa- 
sion to guard such applicants against a dependence 
which would dishonor the sovereignty of the grace 
of God. 

His own confidence in prayer as a power was intense ; 
and he entered into the cause of those distressed souls 
who applied to him, with all the earnestness of an ad- 
vocate for his client. 

Many a beautiful incident occurred during his life, 
illustrative of this. He was once aroused at midnight 
from his slumbers, to visit a lady who was thought to 
be dying. An intelligent woman, and a highly es- 
teemed member of the Presbyterian Church, she had 
fallen into a state of religious despondency. An im- 
penetrable gloom had gradually thickened around her 
soul, till all her former hopes were buried in it as a 
shroud. No exhortations of pastor or friends ; no 
light from past experience or from the Divine word, 

* It will be found in the second part of this volume. 



188 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

seemed able to dispel it. At last the body sank under 
the soul's distress, and wasting away through weary 
months, she was brought down to the very " valley of 
the shadow of death." 

She had sometimes listened to Dr. Kennard's 
preaching; and friends determined to send for him 
in the last extremity, if so be God might give her 
some ray of hope ere she passed away. He hastened 
at once to the house. The silence of the grave per- 
vaded the room as he entered. There lay the invalid 
— victim of " Satan's devices" — stretched upon her 
couch. The pallid face and sunken eyes, told of her 
stony despair. Sitting down by her, he began to show 
her the height and depth of the divine mercy; and as 
one who would count priceless pearls on a golden 
thread, he repeated to her the exceeding great and 
precious promises adapted to her case. 

"They are all true," she sadly replied, "but they 
are not for me." 

" There is but one hope left," said he, "let us look 
to the Lord in prayer." 

" You may if you think it will be of. any avail." 

He kneels by the bedside, and as an anointed priest 
with God, pleads the cause of this crushed soul. And 
as he wrestles with the "Angel of the Lord's presence," 
he prevails. While still kneeling, a cold, wasted hand 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 189 

is laid on his ; and as lie rises a flush of hope kindles 
in the face as she exclaims: " It is all gone! thank 
God! it is all gone!" And then, the fountain of bit- 
ter waters that was corroding her heart being broken 
up, streams of precious, helpful tears ran down her 
smiling cheeks. Clasping his hands with childlike 
wonder and delight, she pours out her thanks to him, 
as her Heaven-sent deliverer, while he, deeply moved, 
can only bid her give all the glory to God. Ere long 
a healed spirit brought healing to the body, and the 
chastened one was restored to a circle of loving friends 
and a happy life. 

Many were the cases of dangerous illness, when the 
physician's skill was exhausted, and the invalid hung 
on the borders of the shadowy land, that his believing 
intercessions were followed by singular and sometimes 
instantaneous relief. We have heard our mother 
speak of her own experience of gracious help through 
that prayer of faith. Once in particular, while endu- 
ring acute and protracted suffering till it seemed that 
nature could support no more, our father stood near, 
as he ever did, to relieve her by all soothing words and 
ministrations; and finding these unavailing, he said, "I 
will go away and pray for you." Almost miraculous 
was the result. He who promises, "While thou art 
yet speaking, I will hear," fulfilled his promise. The 



190 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

pain was instantly assuaged. A sweet calm stole over 
body and mind, even as at the voice of him who whis- 
pered, " Peace! be still!" 

One of the last converts he baptized, in relating 
the history of her conversion, said : " I was deeply 
distressed for sin, and went to my pastor for advice. 
He talked with me, and tried to lead me to the Sa- 
viour. But I was leaving with a heavy heart, when, 
just as I parted with him, he prayed a blessing on me. 
At that instant light and comfort came into my soul, 
and I went on my way rejoicing in the pardon of sin." 

In so large a parish, the number of communicants 
at times reaching eleven hundred, it was impossible, 
considering the numerous calls to duty in his public 
relations, that he should be able to keep up any sys- 
tematic visitation. The number of funerals which he 
attended, absorb ed much of his time, there being on 
an average three a week. At least half of these were 
in families outside of his congregation. If it be 
thought, as it was sometimes by us, that he ought to 
refuse these applications that he might visit more 
among his own people, let it be remembered how diffi- 
cult it is for a man of his heart to deny his services 
to those who were plunged in grief. But he acted not 
from natural sentiments of pity alone. He believed 
that he was thus making the wisest use of his precious 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 191 

time. He embraced the occasion of addressing those 
■whom he might never meet in the church. He carried 
the gospel to them, at a time when their hearts were 
best prepared to receive it. And such was the good 
success of carrying out this idea, that numbers of 
those to whom he had before been a stranger, were 
thus brought to the house of Grod, and into the fold of 
Christ. 

His intercourse with his people was almost exclu- 
sively pastoral. It was a rare treat indeed, for him 
to make a purely social visit, or take a friendly meal 
with any of the families of his church. His visitation 
was almost always called forth by special occasions. 
These were so numerous that he had little time for 
any thing else. But he was ably assisted in an over- 
sight of the flock, by earnest men and women, who ha- 
bitually, under his direction, would visit various parts 
of the field. Sometimes he would have the church 
districted, and the several divisions placed under the 
supervision of committees, so that though he could 
not see personally each family perhaps in many 
months, he might hear how they prospered. 

It could never be said of him, that he sought to make 
partisans by special partiality for individuals. He was 
not free and familiar with some, and dignified and dis- 
tant toward others. Like the Good Shepherd he knew 



192 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

his sheep. He had the rare gift of remembering each 
one's name and face, which gave him no trifling ad-. 
vantage; while for each he had the same benignant 
manner, which, while it never put them on a level with 
him, yet made them perfectly at ease in his presence. 

He kept an especially watchful eye over the poor and 
the afflicted. His presence in the sick room was always 
welcome. The expression of his face ; the simplicity 
and gentleness of his manner; and his method of present- 
ing the gospel to the suffering, — all chimed in with the 
influences there, and brought soothing to the stricken 
ones. 

Some men, from their temperament, are ill-fitted for 
this kind of work. If they go through it, it is because 
they find it a part of their business ; and it is performed 
in a professional and ex-officio way, which to the keen 
discernment of the poor and the invalid is quite mani- 
fest. It is the misfortune- rather than the fault of 
these men. There is a mental structure, an emotional 
tone, which is suited for scenes of health and action, 
but which cannot accommodate itself to the opposite 
occasions. 

Dr. Kennard was at home wherever there was trou- 
ble. He was in his element when he was helping 
somebody out of darkness into the light. And so it 
happened that when he went on his way from the 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 193 



house of mourning, it seemed as if he had brought a 
fragrance and a light of a healthier clime with him. 

He was often sent for by those whose prejudice 
and pride would not permit them to listen to others. 
Worldly and hardened men had confidence in him, for 
the purity and unselfishness of his character. 

During the war he was often sent for by the 
soldiers to visit them in the hospitals. On one 
occasion, a man in the prime of life was dying. 
Brave in the front of cannon, the strong man was 
troubled when brought face to face with God. Still 
impenitent, he refused the counsels of chaplain and 
nurse. He thought religion hypocrisy, and was blind 
to the beauty of the cross. But, his convictions in- 
creasing as death drew nearer, he consented to have a 
minister sent for. "But," said he, " don't bring a 
young man, and be sure he is a good man!" The 
lady who waited on him brought her pastor. As he 
entered the ward where the patient lay, and drew 
near his cot, the soldier started up, and with a child- 
like warmth cried, 

"Why, it is Joseph Kennard, — the best man God 
ever made ! How glad I am to see you. I. heard you 
preach in the old New Market Street Church. Oh, I 
remember it ! You are the very man I want to talk 
with me." Deeply moved, the pastor sought to divert 
17 



194 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

his attention from himself to that Saviour, behind 
whose cross he loved to hide. He soon had the man 
listening with the utmost docility, and, like the cen- 
turion, drinking in all that God would speak by his 
servant, and then with warmest gratitude bade him 
farewell forever. The next day, he said thoughtfully 
to a comrade as he pointed to the ceiling, "Do you 
see that ornament?" 

"Yes." 

" Are you sure?" 

" Certainly I am sure !" 

"Well just so sure am I that Christ has forgiven 
my sins ; and that I shall soon go to him." 

There are few more difficult things than rightly to 
approach men in the ordinary intercourse of life, on 
the subject of personal religion. The methods of good 
men are widely different. One is fearless and thor- 
oughly practical. He feels it his business to take men 
by the hand and urge them to be Christians, and he 
does it with the same freedom and confidence that he 
would solicit them to buy his goods or vote his politi- 
cal ticket. Another feels it incumbent to speak to his 
fellow-man with a manifest belief in his utterly 
wretched and lost condition; and with a doleful whine 
to all alike, warns them of their doom. A third will 
hover around the object of his solicitude, anxious 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 195 

above all things, to do him good, but utterly unable 
to summon courage to propound the question he most 
wants solved. 

Dr. Kennard lacked neither zeal for men's souls 
nor courage to approach them, but he had an exag- 
gerated sensitiveness in regard to the sanctity of each 
man's private religious experiences, and he dreaded to 
trespass where he was not first invited. That he 
was not deficient in courage is evident from the many 
occasions, when, in private as well as public, he would 
rebuke sin ; and in certain emergencies he could make 
to worldly men most pointed appeals. 

I well remember when Mr. I. the president of a 

notorious club of infidels in Philadelphia, and a man 
who had made himself widely known in the community 
for his constant warfare upon Christianity, had occa- 
sion to call upon him on business. Dr. Kennard at 
the close of the interview took the proud and wily 
skeptic by the hand and said, looking him in the face, 
u Mr. I. , you like myself are growing old. Be- 
fore long we shall both stand before God. I have a 
hope of being accepted then through that blessed 
Saviour, you are fighting against. It must soon ap- 
pear which of us was in the right, and which has made 
a fatal mistake. I beg you to spend your declining 
years in making preparation for eternity. I beg you 



196 JOSEPH JJ. KENNABB, B.J). 

to accept that great salvation which is now offered you 
even after a life-long contempt of it." 

He spoke with that authority and benignity which 
characterized an ambassador of heaven. The skeptic 
was evidently touched by his holy zeal. This was not 
a man to dispute with. He had never before had 
words so kind in their sadness addressed to his heart. 
He made some respectful but evasive reply, and 
walked thoughtfully away. In a very short time, the 
morning papers brought to the house the account of 
his death. 

While, however, he would at times address men thus, 
it always occasioned him a struggle. Many a time did 
he express the wish, that he could act more freely in 
this regard. 

Yet this extreme sensibility to the feelings of others 
made him peculiarly acceptable to a class of men who 
were inclined to repel the approaches of religious men 
as officious and intermeddling. 

Watchful to embrace the most favorable times for 
effecting good, he would write letters to those in whom 
he felt an interest, at times when they were in circum- 
stances that opened their minds to the reception of the 
truth. 

To a talented young man, about entering on his 
profession in life, he. wrote as follows : 



JOSEPH II KENJSTARD, D.D. 197 

"Mr Dear Young Friend: — "While the best 
interests of youth around me awaken in my mind an 
affectionate desire to be useful to them, I have felt 
towards yourself for months past more than an 
ordinary concern. I have, on one or two occasions, 
named to you my feelings. But having little oppor- 
tunity for personal conversation with you, I will com- 
municate to you in these lines some of the impre3sions 
of my mind, believing they will be kindly received and 
seriously considered. 

" I behold you rising rapidly into manhood, blest 
with the means of the highest mental improvement, 
and with a laudable zeal to grasp all the advantages 
which such means can secure. I am happy to see you 
thus circumstanced. Education is of vast importance 
to usefulness in your generation, if properly applied. 
But oh ! remember, that while you tread the path of 
science, you are on your way to a future state of 
being ; and for that state, endless in its duration, one 
thing is indispensable to your happiness — You must be 
born again, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"The truth of this statement I know you admit, 
and am persuaded you have often felt its force. But 
how are such convictions to result? Does my dear 
young friend halt between two opinions? Oh, halt 
no longer ! If the Lord be Q-od serve him. 

17* 



198 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.JD. 



" Is there any reasonable excuse for delay in this 
matter? Are you ready to conclude that your youth 
may excuse an immediate attention to the subject? 
Read once more Ecclesiastes 12th. When younger 
than you, the first verse was made the means of my 
conversion ; yet I regret that so many of my days 
were wasted in folly. Forget not, I beseech you, that 
few are converted in old age. 

''Religion will not hinder your progress in your 
studies; but on the contrary advance you, by giving 
you to see their importance, in their influence on the 
cause of Christ and the good of mankind. 

" You are not prevented by father's or mother's 
frown from making an open profession, for sure I am 
they have often prayed for your conversion, and with 
the apostle can say, they have no greater joy than to 
hear that their children walk in the truth! 

"You may suppose that young companions will think 
it strange, and speak evil of you. Be it so. They can- 
not harm you if you be a follower of that which is 
good. Are they not mortal, and can they answer for 
you at the judgment, or give a ransom for you to God? 
Oh ! lay aside every excuse ; and hear your Saviour 
saying, 'Follow thou me;' and, sensible of the impor- 
tance of religious influence, humbly submit to Christ. 
Take on you his yoke and you shall find rest to your 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 199 

soul, for it is good that a man bear the yoke in his 
youth. 

" Think on these things and communicate to me the 
result of your reflections as soon as convenient. 
"Yours with much affection, 

"Jos. H. Kennard." 

There is no time when his people and many others 
will miss him more than when in trouble or sickness, 
or the dread hour of their dissolution. Since we 
have been writing these memoirs, we have been called 
to the bedside of two of his dying flock. One of them 
said, " Oh, I have had such joy to-day ! I have seemed 
to be with my dear pastor in heaven, and talked with 
him all the morning." Another aged man the day 
before his death repeatedly cried, looking up to 
heaven, "Oh ! my dear old pastor, take me to thyself." 

His meek and comforting presence, familiar in such 
scenes, will be seen no more. But the memory of it 
will be a balm as long as life shall last. And many 
a one whose burden he lightened, whose tears he dried, 
whose perplexities he solved, whose path through the 
"dark valley" he brightened, accompanying them to 
the last with the shining candle of the Lord — has wel- 
comed him to the land where they never say, I am 



200 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

sick ; where they need no candle, neither the light of 
the sun, nor of the moon ; for the Lord God giveth 
them light; and where he shall wipe away all tears 
from their eyes, and lead them to fountains of living 
waters. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 201 



CHAPTER IX. 
IN HOME LIFE. 




ANY men live two lives. Their public and their 
private lives are as different as though they 
belonged to two persons. Frequently a 
man's home-life is less attractive than that which he 
lives under the eye of the world. 

This is especially the case with men of nervous 
temperament, and those who are oppressed with heavy 
cares. Pride, discretion, and a sense of duty in re- 
gard to their example among men, combine to make 
them self-restrained and urbane in public; while inside 
their own doors, their pent-up irritability finds vent ; 
or the secret anxiety that wears on the soul, shows 
itself; or the weariness of contact with so many men 
causes them to seek the quiet of separation from even 
the innocent interruptions of the family. 

Often good, strong, and generous natures expend 
the force of their fresh and healthy nervous resources 



202 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

in duties among men, and the home often receives only 
the dregs of weariness and exhaustion. 

We loved and reverenced our father for his superi- 
ority in these respects. A home-life illumined by his 
glowing love, dignified by his courteous refinement, 
sustained by his manly sympathy, and blessed with 
his holy example, cannot fail to be cherished in happy 
memory. 

But as, when in a quiet lake, the beauty of sky 
and hill and mossy rock is mirrored, a bird's wing 
skimming the surface throws the whole picture into 
dimness and confusion; so, though we can look in 
upon that home-life, and see the happy scenes, and 
feel again the atmosphere of love, when we take pen 
to transcribe the vision, the whole attempt seems poor 
and confused enough. 

Intense as was the life he led in public, had you 
observed our father in the family, you would have 
thought nothing interested him so much as providing 
for the comfort of those within the home. 

The ability to make all happy around him, to be " a 
central bliss diffusing warmth," seemed to result from 
the combination of certain inherent traits of charac- 
ter with the graceful tact of a gentleman. He was 
unvaryingly polite to visitors of all classes, and as 
truly considerate of the feelings of the servant in tb* 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 203 

kitchen, as of the friend in the parlor. The lines ad- 
dressed to Arthur Hallam, 

" Manhood was fused with female grace, 
In such a sort the child would twine 
A trustful hand, unasked in thine, 
And find his comfort in thy face," 

could be truly applied to him ; for over little ones who 
came to the house, he appeared to possess a kind of 
magnetism. They seemed to consider him a most con- 
genial and wonderful friend. The children always 
were attracted to him, and never met a rebuff. A 
short time before his death, a little boy came in from 
the street, crying, and holding out his broken kite, 
saying, "Oh! Mr. Kennard, won't you mend my kite?" 
He left his studies, and fixing the toy with utmost 
good nature, sent the little fellow on his way rejoicing. 
Two orphan boys were accustomed to watch for him as 
he would come out of the house, and always ran up to 
get hold of his hand and w T alk down the street with 
him. Another little fellow, on the day of the funeral, 
would not be satisfied till they took the lid off the cof- 
fin that he might be lifted up to have the last kiss. 
Another still said, the day after his death, "" Mother, 
I wonder the sun shines so bright, and that the sky is 
not dark, when so good a man as Brother Kennard has 
died." 



204 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 



When we were little children, the Christmas morn- 
ing was hailed with special pleasure Parents and little 
ones all had their delightful secret. On the one hand, 
the opening of the stocking in the chimney-corner be- 
trayed the parents' love; on the other, a magnificent 
concert consisting of the voices of the half-dozen chil- 
dren, who would steal down to the bed-room door be- 
fore old Sol had his eyes half open. The breaking 
forth of the Christmas-song, was not quite so melodious, 
I suspect, as that of the angels, but just as dear to these 
parents' ears, and effectual in wakening them out of 
their sleep. Then would be the impatient waiting for 
the door to open, and the rush and struggle for the 
first kiss and a "Merrie Christmas." 

The custom in later years was to gather at the close 
of the New Year eve meeting, children and grandchil- 
dren around a common table, spread with simple food, 
at one o'clock New Year's morning. This watch meet- 
ing at the church, and the family gathering afterward, 
were the only irregular hours our father ever tolerated. 

His grandchildren always brought their Christmas 
gifts for him to enjoy with them ; and how every thing 
was enhanced in value by his astonishment and delight 
at their riches. 

Their last gift to him was a sweet-singing canary 
bird, with a note signed by five of them, saying that 



JOSEPH H. KENNARB, D.D. 205 

it was the purchase of their saved pennies, and hoping 
it would u often cheer a weary hour." 

The bird began to sing just as he should, on being 
hung up, much to the uproarious delight of children 
and grandpa. It was a singular circumstance, that 
ten days before his death, this, his pet singer, acciden- 
tally escaped from its cage and never returned. 

His courtesy, however, never caused him to descend 
to the unpolished style of address or deportment of the 
ignorant ; while in the society of the cultivated, his genial 
nature seemed to expand, as in its true element. The 
quiet, but humorous repartee, which, though kept in 
restraint, was so spontaneous, and sparkled in his eye, 
before it was uttered; the quick perception of what 
chord to strike in social symphony; a happy way of 
narrating events, so as to give the main points without 
the tiresome detail ; the power of vividly describing 
what he saw, from the ludicrous to the sublime, — com- 
bined to make him attractive in the social circle. 

Our father's habits and tastes were simple and prim- 
itive. He was accustomed to rise very early. He 
loved the day-dawn for its freshness and quiet; and 
then he always carried to bed with him the feeling 
that there was much to do on the morrow. Waking 
with the sun, he had his time for reading and prayer. 
No matter how onerous the previous day's labor, or 
18 



206 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D D, 



how disturbed his night's rest, he was always astir the 
first of the family, and never retired until all were at 
rest. He seemed ever to realize that he was the head 
of the household, and like all other offices he filled, he 
undertook its responsibilities. Promptly at day-dawn 
he visited the market. He had great enjoyment in 
this practice. No amount of persuasion to save him- 
self in the heat of summer, or to wait for the warm 
breakfast in winter, would induce him to defer atten- 
dance. 

We would here remark that yielding to the wishes 
of those who would dissuade him from labor or turn 
him from his purpose on account of wind or weather, 
was not one of his virtues. He resolutely did what he 
intended to do; and if, through overpowering entreaty 
boots and overcoat ever did come off, and wrapper and 
slippers took their place, the woful look and the de- 
spairing expression " I'm no man," testified to the trial 
it was to his whole nature. 

He was conscientiously and practically opposed to 
stimulants, and therefore never suffered their distress- 
ing reaction. He never used narcotics. The strength 
he employed was natural ; and when exhausted, all he 
wished was to throw himself into an easy chair or on 
a lounge ; and, having a talent for sleep, with the 
hush that we were always taught to observe, a refresh- 



JOSEIH H. KENNARD, B.D. 207 

ing oblivion soon restored his tired nature, and he 
woke ready for the next duty. 

He loved to wait on himself, and his own wants were 
very few. Oar mother used to tell us, that she never 
knew him to want anything. It was quite needful for 
some one to look after his personal comfort : he was so 
self-forgetful. In the ever recurring opportunities, 
when one could serve himself or prefer others, he 
habitually practised the latter. He had a sort of per- 
plexed and amused look whenever we would insist on 
his giving some attention to his own wants. 

This unselfishness was not, as in some men, an 
attainment. It was as natural to him as to breathe. 
The most embarrassment he ever showed, was in 
receiving favors. 

He constantly acted as though the well being of 
everybody depended on his individual exertions. One 
of the results of this was, he had plenty to care for. 
The number of dependent ones in the world is vastly 
in excess of the number of the helpful; and the weak- 
lings in mind, morals, or estate have a kind of instinct, 
by which they find out with surprising facility the rare 
ones, whose sympathy is of the unquestioning and 
unsophisticated quality. The number of the poor, 
halt, blind, neglected, ill-treated ones, who crossed the 
threshold of that home, would surprise one who was 



208 JOSEPH H. KENNAEB, D.D. 

not an inmate of the family. Nor did they wait long 
for the moving of the waters, for the angel always 
dwelt in them with healing power. Mendicant friars 
found as polite a reception as metropolitan bishops, 
and confidence men always found the latch-string of 
his heart in full view. 

That beggar of false pretence, must have been an 
extraordinary bungler, who did not win his confidence. 
When he found himself deceived, as was generally the 
case, he would be somewhat indignant for a moment, 
and resolve that he would ''never trust one of those 
fellows again;" but we all knew how such a resolution 
vanished, in the presence of the next down-cast "in- 
nocent" face, and doleful narrative of a " lost pocket- 
book," or "five small children." The shrewdness 
which was eminent when any ecclesiastical question 
was to be weighed, seemed to quite forsake him when 
the appeal was to his compassion. We often watched 
him with mingled vexation and amusement, when he 
was entering with all his soul into the tale of won- 
drous misfortune, which some plausible rogue was pour- 
ing into his ear, and which to a man of the world 
would be perfectly transparent. Nor did the loss 
of many dollars or the gain of disappointments ever 
cure him. 

He never brought into his home a spirit chafed 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 209 

with disappointed personal ambition. While he longed 
for opportunities of usefulness, and accepted offices 
that afforded them, he was singularly free from those 
aspirations for place, which in their defeat make a 
man morose. He never sought popularity. If our 
father ever felt that his own interests were involved in 
any public or private religious effort, he never betrayed 
it. Though frank in his expressions in his home 
with reference to the church, and the cause of Christ, 
we never heard him utter a word, as if he were solici- 
tous that a discourse should reflect creditably on him- 
self. But when Zion prospered and souls were con- 
verted, his joy was not only spoken, but sung forth 
in sweet humming notes, while over his studies. 

The place in which he studied, was a little six feet 
by twelve room, scarcely large enough for his library 
and study-chair. His library was not very extensive, 
yet embraced many standard works of a value, which 
time has not diminished. Grill and Fuller stood side 
by side; while Edwards, Chalmers, and Henry joined 
hands. With the saintly McCheyne, he held holy 
converse ; and Bunyan's allegories satisfied his taste 
for romance. On the inside of the cover of each book 
in his early collection was the motto, 

"Virtus est melior auro." 

His sermons were written sitting in an old-fashioned 

18* 



210 JOSEPH H KENNARD* D.D 



green painted chair, with one of the arms spread out 
into a sort of tablet, only large enough to contain his 
Bible, Concordance, and his slip of note paper. There 
was also in this room the stool, a gift from one of the 
sisters of the church now in heaven, on which he stood 
to preach, when he held services on the ground now 
occupied by the church. 

That old-fashioned chair and memorable stool will 
long be treasured as precious heir-looms in the family. 
In that chair how many hours has he sat thinking, in- 
tensely thinking, folding the wings of his soul around 
some passage of the word, till the letter became vita- 
lized by the Spirit dwelling in him, and the very 
thought of God, warm and soul-saving, was born out 
of it. There he studied for fifty years. 

Yet he never could endure to be shut up long in his 
study. He had a hankering after the presence of his 
family. Often he would insist upon their allowing 
him to be undisturbed ; the study door would be reso- 
lutely shut ; we would agree to keep as silent as possi- 
ble; but as soon as we had got fairly settled down, and 
all was still, the study door would open, and out would 
come father to know where all the family were. In 
fact he was unhappy not to be among them, or at least 
hear the distant music of the family life. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 211 

As a parent, father fully met our wants. He had 
heart-affluence sufficient for a deep and equal interest 
in all his children's joys and sorrows. Naturally, 
however, circumstances would specially direct this in- 
terest. As each felt the awakening power of God's 
Spirit, and bowed beneath the burden of sin, and at 
length was brought to confess a Saviour's grace, (un- 
til all became open disciples), efforts, prayers, and re- 
joicing centered in the one. He was lovingly con- 
cerned for a daughter, whose timid conscience, op- 
pressed with desponding views of her religious state, 
prevented her from making a profession of religion. 
When brought at last after many years of doubt to 
consent, that, if he thought best, she would be bap- 
tized, he joyfully wrote to her. 

"My dear M: If I understand your note, 

you desire my sober judgment on your coming before 
the church, on Wednesday evening. My answer is, 
that, without a doubt, you ought to come ; and had I 
one doubt on the subject of your change of heart, I 
would say, 'No!' — and more from the fact of your 
being my child, than if you were a stranger. 

"Many of the best Christians I have known, have 
come out in darkness of mind. You know I have lono- 

o 

known your state of mind. I have made it my study, 



212 JOSEPH II KEXNARD, D.D 



my earnest study, for years, and with much prayer. 
My last prayer was just before I heard you thad deci- 
ded, and I said, ' The Lord be praised, prayer is now 
answered !' 

"I think it is plain that to come just as you are is 
the cross you are called to bear. Take it up at once, 
my child, at once. You must expect the enemy of 
your soul will hinder you, if he can. As the time 
draws near, he will tempt you to draw back. Bat 
listen not. Hear your Saviour say, Follow thou me ; 
and answer, Lord, I will follow thee. After reading 
this, fall down and say, Lord, I will follow thee, de- 
pending only on thy mercy. 

"Your affectionate 

"Father." 

As his children married, they established homes of 
their own, and sometimes at a distance. This was 
always a source of trouble to him. Though he 
received his children-in-law to full confidence, and loved 
them as a father, he never lost that anxious care and 
desire for his own. In leaving the parental roof they 
carried with them a father's blessing, and they left 
wide open a door in his heart, which never closed to 
one of them ; but, yearned to welcome them back, in 



JOSE PH H. KENNARD, D.D. 213 

the old happy spot — The Some, which, though not 
possessing the appointments of wealth and luxury, 
was a sunny place, full of genial good feeling and 
mutual love. The return of any absent one was a fes- 
tival to him, and every event, joyous or grievous, must 
be fully reported. 

The following letter was written after a visit to 
Watertown : 

"My Dear Alfred and Lizzie: — Your letters 
received to-day, with dear Mary's, are doubly welcome 
from the glad tidings that a gracious God has not only 
visited the church with his reviving influences, but has 
mercifully answered your many prayers — and not 
yours alone — for your dear Ida and Mary. May the 
good Shepherd carry them in his arms, and secure 
them from every spiritual foe. Tell them from 
grandpa, to watch and pray, and thus grow in grace. 
Tell dear Joseph from me, that I want him to remem- 
ber his Creator now, and give his heart to the 
Saviour. 

" We have a little boy among our converts, only ten 

years old. Johnnie M , came out once with the 

inquirers, not I think from sympathy. We do not 
hinder or advise him to go out ; we are watching him 
with much concern. I think you or Alfred had better 



214 JOSEPH H. KEJSfNARD, D.D. 

talk with Joseph, and impart to him correct views of 
religion, and suitable encouragement. May the Lord 
make him also his child ! 

" Oh, am I not an honored and happy man ? and does 
not the Lord deal with me in wonderful goodness, not 
only to have all my own dear children in his kingdom, 
but my children-in-law, and now my dear grand-chil- 
dren ? Oh, for a heart to feel so great a mercy ! 

"Since Ma's death, I feel I have nothing in this 
world, separate from my dear Lord's cause and glory, 
to keep me, or to live for, but my children. My in- 
terest in them is daily increasing. Their joys are my 
joys, and their every pain and every tear affects me. 
I sometimes feel like having one great house, to have 
them all with me. But this is not the will of my Fa- 
ther in heaven. He has a house where, by grace, I 
trust, we all shall dwell together in a little time. * * 
"Your affectionate Pa." 

Our father ever maintained a dignity which com- 
manded our entire submission to his will, and pre- 
vented trifling with him, even in word. Indeed, in all 
of his associations with men of different classes and in 
different places, his dignity was always maintained. If 
the adage, "Familiarity breeds contempt," be a rule, 
his was an exceptional case; for it was observed, in 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 215 

his ordinary intercourse with society, if, on first ac- 
quaintance, there was manifested toward him a care- 
less, jocose manner, impressions then received changed 
the style of approach. 

" When thou wert by, 
The flippant put himself to school, 
And heard thee." 

In the enforcement of parental authority he never 
forgot that injunction, " Parents, provoke not your 
children to wrath." The government was mainly en- 
trusted to our mother. He had rules and views pecu- 
liar to himself, which could not be set aside without 
incurring his displeasure. This was, however, never 
manifested by angry rebuke ; but the expression of the 
eye, and the words, "My child, you've grieved me," 
cut far deeper into our hearts than harsh expressions 
could. Previous conference made the will of one the 
will of both parents, and we never had the idea that 
what one refused, the other might grant. 

If offence was given to either, it was never passed 
over; but a reserve was observed, until the fault was 
confessed. We were taught that this was the only 
respectful course for us to follow; that to do so was 
noble ; and to avoid it, mean-spirited. 

He was eminently genial and condescending among 
his children. We were encouraged in the happiest 



216 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D, 

merriment, by his participation, when he came into 
the family room for relaxation. Childhood's history 
teems with recollections of the many romping plays, 
when, for the time, the man became the boy, or allowed 
himself to be a much abused plaything, until, all at 
once, he would disentangle himself from the group, 
and resume the old dignity. We knew then that our 
noise must cease. 

This playfulness would peep out sometimes in his 
correspondence with his children. Thus to one he 
writes: "I am glad you had a pleasant day at the 
' Falls.' I am sorry Lizzie number two had to come 
home with her head covered with leaves; but tell her 
that her great-great grandma had once to be covered 
all over with leaves. On reading the words, ' in re- 
gard to the articles you took from Mass. belonging to 
us,' etc., I was startled, and yet felt as innocent as 
did Benjamin of old. But, sure enough, on search- 
ing, they are found in the sack !" 

"Freedom within bounds " was a motto our mother 
gave us, with reference to our sports in the home and 
our privilege of inviting our youthful friends. A 
large family of children, engaged in one common en- 
joyment, must often have required patience to be ex- 
ercised; for we were seldom checked; and when we 
look back, and remember that when at home from 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 217 

school, play was pursued as a business, and trades 
were carried on, and fairs held, and exhibitions of 
oratorical and musical talent (after due preparation) 
before a select audience of father and mother, we 
wonder at the freedom and forget the bounds. We 
were early taught to choose our associates for their mo- 
ral worth, and these were warmly welcomed, and as 
cheerfully entertained, as their own congenial friends. 
Towards our dear mother, father was the most faith- 
ful of husbands. A Quaker maiden, beautiful and 
gentle as the spring, he wedded her in his youth. The 
only times he became enthusiastic about dress were 
when, with sparkling eye, he used to tell us how she 
looked when he first led her into the village church as 
his bride; and, though he professed to regard "such 
things as vanity" in others, he could not conceal a 
certain gratification (call it what you will) when he 
told us that "the townspeople all said he had taken 
away the belle of Burlington." And he never ceased 
the chivalrous devotion of their first love, until that last 
moment, when she expired in his arms, while he prayed 
his " dear Lord to be with her in that dark valley," 
at whose entrance they must part. 

That wife and mother — blessed be her memory — 
was always a noble helpmeet in his work. Until 
within the few last years of her life, she unobtrusively 
19 



218 JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 

assisted hirn in all departments of appropriate labor 
in the church. If, in his walks among the poor, father 
met with objects of charity; or if funds were low in 
the treasury of the benevolent societies, when the de- 
mand was urgent; or the church was to be refurnished ; 
and especially when students of the church needed 
their wants supplied at college, — he felt, in relating 
the circumstance to her, that he committed the whole 
matter to a responsible executive committee on ways 
and means. At once enthusiastic and cautious, her 
plans were well formed, and carried out with indomi- 
table energy. Even when she was not able to go out- 
side of her house, to engage in benevolent enterprises, 
her judgment and counsel were asked. Once, when 
her health was so impaired that she could not leave 
her room, we remember her projecting an outfit for a 
foreign missionary, collecting much of the funds ne- 
cessary, by writing to those of whose liberality she 
knew, and having much of the work prepared in her 
presence. 

She was peculiarly fitted to counsel him in per- 
plexity, to cheer him by her hopeful and buoyant spi- 
rit, when oppressed with care, and to guide the affairs 
of his home with discretion. Through her unwearying 
care and wisdom, a large family was reared in the 
nurture of Christ, with minds well furnished by edu- 



JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 219 



cation, and hearts more than usually protected from 
the assaults of worldly temptation. She possessed a 
true motherly ambition that her children should be 
clothed outwardly and inwardly with those substantial 
adornments that would command the respect of so- 
ciety. We can never think but with admiring grati- 
tude how many times with skilful economy she carved 
out of a very limited income, besides the expenses of 
our daily living, those little luxuries of education, or 
recreation, or dress, which she knew would make us 
happier. 

Yet she was still more anxious to contribute her 
full share to the cause of benevolence. Christian be- 
nevolence was the prominent trait in her character. 
She thought, she talked, she wrote about it. A par- 
simonious or covetous Christian, was an enigma to 
her. She believed that Christians should give till 
they felt it, and she in her own acts lived this belief. 
She would sometimes say : " Oh, if people knew what 
a pleasure it is to give, I am sure they would do more 
of it;" then would add: " I hope I may never give 
grudgingly." She often expressed the fear that she 
did not give enough, and a few years before her death, 
she came to the resolution to devote one-fifth of her 
income to benevolence. 

On the evening of June 25, 18G2, she retired to her 



220 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

bed, as well as usual; and, after a day of much good 
cheer, from pleasant letters received from absent ones, 
she slept quietly until twelve o'clock. At that time, 
she awoke, complaining of oppression at the heart, 
and after a half hour of severe suffering, she fell 
asleep in Jesus. She was conscious of the fact that 
she was dying ; expressed her firm trust in the right- 
eousness of Christ; asked for strengthening grace, 
and commended her soul to the Lord Jesus. 

Father received this great bereavement meekly, as 
from the Lord; not a murmur escaped him, yet we 
could all see what a deep shadow it had cast over his 
life. His children gathered around him with their 
affectionate ministrations, and he clung to them tena- 
ciously, yet they could see how the empty place in 
that home was ever present to him. As each anni- 
versary of her death would draw near, he would be 
very sad. On the first, he waited until the solemn 
hour had passed away, and then retired to rest. On 
June 26, 1864, he writes in his diary: "At midnight, 
last night two years ago, the dearest treasure I ever 
had, except the Lord Jesus Christ, my dear wife, de- 
parted very suddenly, saying: 'Lord Jesus, receive 
my spirit!' " 

On the third anniversary of her death, as it was the 
Lord's Day, his daughter studiously avoided any allu- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 221 

sion to the subject, hoping that in the. necessary pre- 
paration for that day, he might not remember it; but 
as he commenced his morning's sermon, many noticed 
him oppressed as with sorrow; the cause was soon re- 
vealed, when he referred* to the memories the day 
awakened. The fourth anniversary he spent with her 
in heaven, entering its portals just one day previous 
to it. 

His life at home was distinguished for its holiness. 
In this respect, he was in the most unguarded hours in 
the family-circle, the same that he was in the pulpit. 
He was not puritanical in his ways ; there was too 
much of child-likeness and freedom for that. Yet an 
air of sacredness always seemed to us to invest him. 
He did not force religion upon the minds of his chil- 
dren in a series of duties, or by dogmatic lectures, but 
he mirrored it in his whole spirit and deportment, and 
thus made it attractive. 

His devotions were never ostentatious ; yet we all 
knew, that the prayers at family worship were only a 
part of the time he spent in intercourse with heaven. 

Prayer was his resort in every event. If he was 
especially happy, he went away to pray. If harassed 
with more than ordinary anxiety, he sought rest in 
prayer. If affliction was in the family or distress in 

19* 



222 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 



the city, he carried the matter to the throne of grace ; 
and this, with the Word, which he made his daily con- 
templation, often refreshed his soul when it was very 
weary, and bore him as on eagle's pinions through his 
overwhelming cares and labors. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 223 



CHAPTER X. 

THE SUNSET. 




HE closing years of Dr. Kennard's life were 
like an October sunset, when the sky is 
cloudless above, while from the crimson west 
the setting sun smiles brightly on the woods, that 
seem to burn with an unconsuming and prismatic flame. 
His leaf faded not in a dull and crackling decay ; but 
with its verdure ripening into purple and gold. The 
last two years were full of happiness and full of use- 
fulness. 

Immediately after the twenty-fifth Anniversary of 
the Church, January, 1863 — with which we closed the 
second chapter — the windows of heaven were again 
opened, and a blessed revival was enjoyed. He writes, 
March 13th: "The good work goes on very plea- 
santly. It is gradual, calm, and steady. Some forty 
persons have manifested soul anxiety, and I think the 
prospect is as good now as at any period since the 
work began. It is delightful to see so many of the 



224 JOSEPH H. KENNARB, BB. 

children of the members of the Church seeking the 
Lord; and to me more so, from the fact that dear 
' Ma' had her heart set on this, and before her death 
wrote a list of their names, and told me I would yet 
reap a harvest from them." That year he had the 
pleasure of baptizing sixty converts. 

His closing years were also brightened by the in- 
creasing devotion of his church-members to his happi- 
ness. During Christmas week of 1863, they paid him 
a very pleasant visit, which he thus notices in his 
diary : 

"December 29. — A visit of my people of a most 
' surprising' character. My house was occupied by a 
quiet crowd, before I had a thought on the subject. 
All happy, some one hundred and seventy-five in 
number. Dr. J. made an address, and presented me 
five hundred and thirty dollars. The Lord be praised, 
more for their love, than for their money." 

The next year he writes to his children of another 
pleasant surprise, when, after a prayer-meeting, the 
congregation was requested to remain, and another 
five hundred was presented, accompanied by a set of 
resolutions, gravely read by one of the deacons, 
wherein several serious charges of too great devotion 
to the church, were brought against him, and he was, 
on motion, unanimously judged guilty. His last 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 225 



Christmas festival was made the occasion of like de- 
monstrations of affection. More than any thing else, 
however, did he appreciate the deep sympathy which 
his people evinced toward him, at the great affliction 
into which he was plunged by the death of Mrs. Ken- 
nard. By every delicate attention did they testify 
their reverence for her memory, and desire to soothe 
his stricken heart. Indeed, their relation was that of 
children to a father; and filial love could do no more 
than theirs. 

To the end of his ministry he enjoyed the privilege 
of preaching to a very large audience, and with plea- 
sure to himself. He writes, Oct. 22, 1864: "Our 
dear old house, with its old pastor, is becoming anti- 
quated. But still the people come. The morning 
congregation presents a glorious sight to those that 
aim to win souls to Christ and salvation." Again in 
Sept., 1864: " Our own congregations are very good, 
and the preacher is thought to improve, — for which, 
in my opinion, there is much room. Seriously, I 
have cause to be thankful that while my head allows 
but little study, I have had unusual liberty in preach- 
ing." Dec. 21, 1864: "Preaching never appeared 
more precious to me than now, nor ever more free." 

The last work of grace in which he was permitted 
to reap a harvest of souls, was during the winter and 



226 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

spring previous to His departure. He writes of this 
awakening: "Many of the members are reviving, much 
to my joy; and backsliders mourn their folly in de- 
parting from the living God. I expect to baptize ten 
or twelve next Lord's Day." 

His interest also in the cause at large was earnest 
to the end. The last session of the Philadelphia As- 
sociation which he attended, was in 1865. It was held 
in the Fifth Church. The Conference Meeting on 
Thursday evening, was, as usual, crowded; and great 
fervor marked the exercises. Just as the meeting 
was about to close, he arose and came to the platform 
and spoke, evidently struggling with strong emotion. 
He referred to his early connection with that venera- 
ble body. All the pastors, then members of it, had 
gone to the church above, while he stood there alone ; 
but to the praise of God, with better health and 
strength than when he first united with them ; for 
then so frail was his body, that he trembled when he 
stood up to preach. He blessed God, for the growth 
of the Association, for the good that had been accom- 
plished, and especially for the establishment of this 
Thursday evening meeting. He said, that the want 
of such spiritual element in the regular arrangement, 
had forcibly impressed his mind; and that shortly 
after connecting himself with the body, he proposed 



JOSEPH II. KENNARB, B.B. 227 

that the last evening of each session should be devoted 
to free conference and prayer. This was ruled out of 
order, when Dr. Staughton, who sat near him, rose, 
and with peculiar manner and eloquent tones, said : 
"Mr. Moderator, if there be any rules in the Consti- 
tion of this Association that forbid my young brother 
introducing that resolution, burn them, sir, burn 
them!" The proposition was then successfully sus- 
tained by a powerful champion, and ever since has 
been observed to the great profit of the churches. 

Then with a quick transition to the present time, 
Dr. Kennard said: "You have resolved in compliance 
with a request from my people to meet with them one 
year from this time. I hope the Lord will meet with 
you on that occasion, and bless you; but I feel im- 
pressed I shall not be with you then, that I shall not 
join you in those services." 

Then followed affectionate words of parting advice 
to his younger brethren in the ministry, and to the del- 
egates from the churches, to seek a great outpouring of 
the Holy Spirit, and the hope that a wonderful work 
of conversion might be witnessed, though he might 
not live to see it. Deep emotion was visible on every 
face, and many wept while hearing these words, which 
proved to be his last in that body. The Moderator 
and other brethren feelingly responded. His presen- 



228 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

timent foreshadowed the fact. This was indeed his 
farewell. When the Association met the following 
year in the Tenth Church, they* found the house 
draped in mourning, and a flock bereft of its shep- 
herd. 

On the occasion of his sixty-seventh birthday, April 
24th, 1865, it happened that there was a general 
home-coming of his family. Every child and every 
grand-child was there, twenty in all; the only absent 
one was Rev. Mr. Patton, detained by official duties. 
It was determined to make the occasion one of more 
than ordinary pleasure ; and arrangements to that end 
were made, quite unknown to him. In the evening, 
after supper, he, having quite forgotten that it was 
his birthday, was about to retire to his study, when a 
son-in-law persuaded him into the parlor. Then, as 
each of his daughters came in arrayed in holiday at- 
tire, he expressed his wonder. When they answered, 
" Don't you remember, Pa, it is your birth-night?" it 
rather amused him that they should take so much 
trouble for that. While chatting pleasantly, the 
voices of the grand-children were heard in the hall, 
singing, 

" We are coming, dearest grandpa, 
On this thy natal da} 7 ." 

In they came in single file procession, the oldest 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, DD. 229 

grandson bearing a little banner of their own contri- 
vance, with u Viva dear Grandpa" printed on it. 
Grandpa rose to meet him as they came toward him, 
each one, down to a toddling baby, bearing a gift. 
"With tender love, he gave a kiss and a blessing to 
each. Then the children presented their tokens and 
claimed the same reward. All now joined in a song 
of greeting composed for the occasion, by the eldest 
son-in-law, and while singing the last verse, standing 
in a group around the room, the eldest child advancing, 
placed a wreath of evergreen upon his head. Then with 
patriarchal grace and deep emotion, he stood and ad- 
dressed us, praising his children for their devotion to 
him, and thanking God for a life so happy as his had 
been, his voice trembling as he referred to the dear 
one in heaven. With bright hopes we parted, never 
all to meet again. 

Of his last birthday, only a few weeks before he 
passed away, he writes to his daughter in Utica: 

"My Dear Daughter: — Your love-token for my 
birthday came safe to hand. Very beautiful, and 
grateful to my heart. Many similar ones have been 
received from dear ones at home. * * * * Why 
all this to a poor sinner sixty-eight years old? Thank 
the Lord for hearts to love me ! * * * * I bap- 
20 



230 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

tized seven last Lord's Day; and Spencer, eighteen in 
his church, in the presence of a great crowd. I have 
been sad in view of J's. leaving, but jour visit and 
cheerful spirit comforted me very much." 

A daughter and son-in-law had shortly before this 
been, in the providence of God, removed to Albany. 
They had been very active and efficient in the Tenth 
Church, and he severely felt their loss. The spirit of 
resignation blended with parental yearning, shows it- 
self in a letter dated May 22 : 

"My Dear Daughter: — I have been anxious that, 
my first letter directed to you should be cheerful. * 

* * * That we may daily meet at a throne of 
grace most of all, should indeed make me happy. 
But I fear nothing will make me so — in my earthly 
condition — in the absence of my loved and loving 
children. In view of abounding goodness to me, in 
so many ways, and especially in the fact of all my 
children and some of my grand-children loving Christ, 
I ought to be happy. But call it ungrateful on my 
part, or call it my infirmity, my weakness, my extreme 
fondness, — I own it all, but the fact remains, * * 

* * I cheer myself with the hope that you will 
by and by return to me again. Though I may never 
realize it, I will hope on. If my dear Lord will give 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 231 

me to have my children near me before I die, it shall 
be new cause for praise to his name. * * * Let 
me entreat you to take special care of your health, 
which with me is a great concern. Write me the pro- 
mised letter. " From Your Loving 

"Pa." 

In one of his last letters to the writer, he says : "It 
has been a cherished object with me, since your mo- 
ther's death, to have my children near me. I suppose 
I am excessive in the desire ; I hope not rebellious. 

When A - was to leave W., I did hope he would 

come nearer me, and so when you left Woburn. Tra- 
velling to me is distressing ; age is coming on me, and 
time must be short. I shall not be able to visit my 
children much. Did I love you all less, it would not 
affect me so much. My children are very precious to 
me. They are my chief earthly comfort. I thank 
Grod for those within my house. Since ma's death 
they have shed much light on my gloom, and added to 
my joy. May the good Lord spare them to me ! 

"Pray for me, my dear son, that I may submit to 
my heavenly Father's ways and thoughts. May you 
all, my dear children, be spared ! Live near Christ ; 
serve his cause, and by and by may we be a whole 
family in heaven." 



232 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

About the same time he wrote the following to a 
grandson, showing his deep anxiety for the spiritual 
good of his absent ones : 

" My dear Grandson : I was very glad to receive 
your very affectionate and welcome letter. In reply, 
need I say I love you, and I feel anxious for your ad- 
vancement in a religious life ? You know it is written, 
' Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord 
Jesus Christ ;' ' Hold fast the profession of your faith, 
without wavering.' May the Lord bless you, and, as 
we sing, be ' ever near, ever dear.' 

" Our Youths' meeting is very good, and we get on 
better than I feared. * * * Remember me to 
brother Spencer, to Pa, and dear Ma. 
" Your affectionate 

" Grandpa." 

His last few months were much cheered by the pre- 
sence in his home of our mother's sister, Mrs. Brady, 
of New York, for whom he had a warm affection. The 
following letter from her to the daughters refers to 
this period : 

"August 31, 1866. 
" My Dear Girls : Many times I have written to 
you in my mind, but did not commit to paper. Oh, 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 233 

how I live over again the pleasant, happy days I spent 
with you ! — happy beyond expectation. I am not un- 
mindful of our visits, and the beautiful ride. You 
will remember, my dear Beulah, how we were struck 
with the sudden and sublime sight, of a wonderful 
rainbow ; and yet it could not be called that. I never 
saw anything like it. It stood in the air so near us ; 
the overhanging clouds that surrounded it, edged it 
with rich colors of surpassing beauty. It called forth 
the exclamation from your now sainted father, ' It 
seems like a monument of glory.' I think he saw more 
of its glory than I was permitted to see. 

" No man, I think, could live a more beautiful Chris- 
tian life than he did. His devotion to the church ; 
his love and sympathy for the poor and afflicted, how 
great ! Many times during my visit of weeks to you, 
I have seen him come in wearied, tired out, yet un- 
complaining. On one occasion, I think it was on the 
last Saturday afternoon, I said : 4 Brother, you look 
greatly fatigued, I think you are doing too much.' 
He answered : * Sister, if I had the money some have 
I would make some widows' and orphans' hearts sing 
for joy, in less than twenty-four hours. ? I thought 
how he walks in the steps of his Lord and Master. 
He then told me of the suffering he had seen, from 
want and sickness. * * * One evening in the 

20* 



234 JOSEPH R. KENNARD, D.D. 

Youths' Meeting is fresh in my mind. After preach- 
ing, the children sang a beautiful hymn, then he sat 
and talked to them of the joys of heaven, his coun- 
tenance so lighted up, his face seemed to shine, he was 
so filled with the Spirit. And while contemplating 
his Christian life, I said musingly, ' How many stars 
will he wear in his crown ?' I did not think he was so 
soon to realize his victory. 

" A day or two before leaving, in conversation I 
remarked: 'You have been singularly blest.' He 
said: 'Yes, I don't believe I have my parallel on 
earth ; all I want is a grateful heart.' 

" The last sermon I heard was from the text, ' How 
much owest thou my Lord ?' He spoke of the debt of 
the church. In the afternoon I said, ' I think you are 
anxious to have the church out of debt, that when you 
are called up higher, you can leave it as a sort of 
legacy to your people.' He replied : ' I hope to live 
to see it out of debt, and then, if I should live two 
years more, I will be seventy, and the church thirty 
years old. Then I want to have a jubilee, and I want 
you to be here.' * * * 

" Your affectionate aunt, 

"R. B." 

His incessant labors for so many years were seldom 



JOSEPH H. KEXNARD, DD. 235 

interrupted by sickness. His longest illness was from 
an attack of inflammatory rheumatism. This was dur- 
ing the winter of 18-A1-2, while a delightful revival 
was in progress. His bodily sufferings were intensi- 
fied by the fact, that he must be absent from his usual 
post at such a time. For a while his life was despaired 
of, but a gracious God heard the prayer of an anxious 
people, and he was raised from his sick-bed, and per- 
mitted again to minister at the altar. 

The extreme heat of summer always diminished his 
strength, especially in the last few years of his life. 
The cool autumn revived him, and he was ready for 
the winter's campaign. But a resolute will, not to 
succumb to circumstances, had led him into errors with 
respect to his powers of endurance, which grieved those 
who feared that his life, so precious to them, would be 
sacrificed. 

On one occasion, while suffering from an attack of 
rheumatism, which completely disabled him, a special 
service was to be held at the church. He formed a 
secret resolve to attend it ; and with this purpose in 
view, persuaded his wife to help him to dress. She 
left him somewhat comfortable in an easy chair ; but 
on her coming back, found him sitting half-way down 
the stair-way, pale and distressed, very willing to be 
assisted back into his bed. He had slipped himself 



236 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 



from step to step, with what acute suffering was only 
shown by his countenance, and the profuse perspira- 
tion which covered him. He had thus intended to 
show that he was able to be present at the service. 

At another time when he over-estimated his strength, 
he fainted in the pulpit, and the wish sometimes ex- 
pressed, rather to die in that sacred place, than be 
laid aside from active service, came very near a literal 
fulfilment. Overwork and care for so many years 
caused him to suffer from acute attacks of headache. 
Otherwise he seemed to increase in health and strength 
with years. The last two were especially free from 
protracted sickness. He went on energetically with 
his work, and his labors were never more abundant or 
successful. But it was the burning up of the candle 
just before it went out. 

On Lord's Day evening, June 24, 1866, he went 
over to the majority. He disappeared into the light. 
On the Sunday previous to his death he preached 
from the text : "What is thy beloved more than an- 
other beloved?" Song of Solomon v. 9, — a sermon of 
unusual power. He greatly enjoyed his theme, and 
while speaking of the excellency of Christ, as the 
King of saints, he stopped, and requested some Sun- 
day-school scholars to sing the hymn with the chorus : 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 237 

"We love to sing around our King, 
And hail him blessed Jesus," 

which request was immediately complied with, and 
added to the tender impressions of the hour. He then 
rose, and with touching pathos, spoke of Christ as the 
loving husband of the church, urged his claims to 
supremacy, and with rapturous tones exclaimed as he 
closed : " This is my beloved, this is my friend !" 

In the evening of that day, just before service, a 
little choir of Sunday-school girls, whose singing had 
often soothed him, concluded, in passing the house, to 
come in and surprise him. The pastor being up stairs 
at his studies, they stole quietly into the parlor, and 
began singing his favorite hymn — 

" There is no name so sweet on earth, 
No name so sweet in heaven." 

The melody was wafted softly up to the room above, 
and in a moment more the well-known step of the pas- 
tor was on the stairs. Immediately he was with them, 
his eye beaming with tender love ; and as he sat in his 
arm-chair, with shut eyelids, they sang for nearly an 
hour the sacred songs that were so dear to him. That 
evening he preached from the text: " The judge 
standeth at the door." It was a stormy night, and 



238 JOSEPH H. KENNABD, D.D. 

the services were held in the lecture-room. Those who 
were present remember it as a most solemn and im- 
pressive appeal. He remarked, during the sermon, 
that he wished to speak to them with all the earnest- 
ness and solemnity, that he would manifest if it were 
his last sermon. 

The following week he was in his usual health, and 
hard at work in his Master's vineyard. At midnight 
of Saturday he was attacked with severe pains in the 
breast. His groans awoke his daughter in the ad- 
joining room, who applied remedies, which relieved 
him. The first rays of the sun on Sunday morning 
found him up and at his studies. 

He prepared a discourse to preach from the words, 
" The Sabbath was made for man." It was at a time 
when the sanctity of the day was being invaded by the 
attempt to run the city passenger cars. He was in- 
tensely interested in the matter. He dreaded any- 
thing which would tend to break down the day of rest, 
and was one of the foremost among those earnest men 
of the city, who determined to enlighten and elevate 
the tone of public sentiment on the subject. It was 
for this purpose he had prepared the sermon, with 
more than ordinary care. Feeling improved in health, 
he determined to preach. He took his bath, and ate 
his breakfast as usual. Afterward, walking in the gar- 



JOSEPH H. KEXNARD, D.D. 239 

den, and remembering the habit of an absent daughter 
to gather a morning bouquet, he said to one, then with 

him, " I must have a bouquet for B in the parlor." 

With the sudden desire, he began to collect from bush 
and vine, and the bunch was tied by his own hands. 

He was urged to send for help, and not attempt the 
services of the day ; for, though relieved of pain, he 
was weak, and seemed exhausted with his morning 
studies. But no persuasion availed ; he said, " If I 
never preach another sermon, I will preach this, for I 
know it is needed." But "man proposes, God dis- 
poses." He came down stairs, and was sitting in the 
parlor, fifteen minutes before service commenced, ready 
with the sermon in the pocket of his coat (where it 
was found after his death) to go over to his church, 
which was nearly opposite his dwelling, when the pain 
of the previous night returned, and he was obliged to 
yield to his daughter's entreaties, and allow her to 
send, at the last moment, for his old friend, Dr. Winter, 
to preach, and for his physician to prescribe for him. 
The pain was of a spasmodic character, and was quickly 
subdued by anodynes, but his physician's orders were 
for him to go to his room, and entire quiet to be ob- 
served. Excepting a few hours' rest on the bed, he pre- 
ferred the rocking-chair, and was unwilling to consider 
himself sick. He suffered but little discomfort during 



240 JOSEPH H. KENNARB, D.D. 

the day, except from heat. In the afternoon occurred 
the monthly missionary meeting of the Sunday-school. 
Always happy in being there, he felt a great desire to 
go over to it, and only consented to remain at home 
after obtaining the promise that they would give him 
a minute account of all that occurred. His feelings 
at this time were cheerful and genial ; disappointed, 
indeed, in not being permitted to fulfil his desires ; but 
touched pleasantly with the gentle restraints which 
the love of his family and friends imposed, he yielded 
gracefully to their anxiety, and spent the afternoon 
quietly in his rocking-chair. During the afternoon, 
Dr. Winter, the friend of his youth and intimate com- 
panion in the ministry, came in. He had preached 
for him in the morning. As he entered the room he 
greeted him as he was accustomed by his first name, 
" Well, Thomas, come and sit down by me." Then 
laying his hand affectionately on his knee he said, 
" Now tell me about the sermon this morning ; I know 
you gave them sound doctrine ; how did you enjoy it 
yourself? Tell me all about it." His friend replied in 
a pleasant strain, and departed. He was not per- 
mitted to see the many loving friends that called to 
inquire ; but a deacon he wished to talk with, in refer- 
ence to an engagement to attend a funeral the next 
morning, and a few minutes of affectionate con versa- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.J). 241 

tion passed. Then a few charges must.be given, with 
respect to the approaching excursion on Tuesday, 
to an officer of the Sunday-school who called. " Be 
sure you see that none of the children get in- 
jured; have the swings well secured, &c." "Well, 
pastor, I hope you will be able to go with us, and that 
next Sunday you will preach us that sermon you 
wished to give us this morning." With cheerful fare- 
well, they passed out of the room. 

The summer sun was just setting ; the sacred day 
was closing, fitting time for the termination of the 
days' work of such a harvest toiler. 

To his daughter he then remarked, that he thought 
the heat grew more oppressive. She replied, " I do 
not think so ; but you are weak, and I will bring you 
some food." She went down stairs for this purpose ; 
but during the time of descending that stair-way, 
death had entered the room she left, and claimed the 
fulfilment of that dread sentence passed upon all. 
Nay, rather, " those who saw the smile, he passed away 
in, said, He looks as he had awoke and seen the face 
of Christ, and with a rapturous smile held out his 
arms to come to him." He was not alone when this 
change took place. A young friend, who had been 
invited to remain with the family, to attend evening 
service, was with him. Hearing him say he was warm, 
21 



242 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 



she rose and offered to fan him. His last words were, 
" My child, I fear you are wearying yourself.'' She 
replied, "Not at all," when she observed his face con- 
tract as with pain. She said, "Pastor, does that pain 
trouble you again ?" He did not answer. She looked 
and wondered; then called to his daughters, "Come 
quickly." Hastening to the room, what a sight met 
their eyes ! A father lifeless ! Restoratives were ap- 
plied, and a neighboring physician sent for. He 
came, but said, " He is gone; but don't grieve — don't 
repine ; I never saw anything so beautiful in my life. 
It is a translation!" There he sat in the rocking- 
chair, invested with wrapper and slippers, both arms 
lay gently supported, his feet in an easy position on 
a foot-stool, looking just as comfortable, and with as 
calm face, as if in quiet slumber. 

God did not withhold " from him the request of 
his lips," for he had desired that he might be exempted 
from protracted physical suffering at the time of death. 
That very afternoon, while talking with a married 
daughter, who had remained that day at the old home, 
he said, " Your mother could bear great suffering; I 
used to wonder at her endurance ; she was very brave ; 
but oh ! how I shrink from it ! I don't believe I could 
endure patiently." There was another fear he had ; 
only a few weeks before he died, he said, " Sometimes 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 213 

in thinking of death, I try to imagine myself lying on 
my bed, and my children around me, and I attempt- 
ing to bid each farewell, and I can't bring myself to 
it ; I feel I cannot do it ; I don't know how I may 
feel at the time, but now it seems impossible." 
How applicable these words of another : 

" Sudden as thought is the death i" would die ; 
I would suddenly lay my shackles by ; 
Nor bear a single glance at parting, 
Nor see a tear of sorrow starting, 
Nor hear the quivering lips that bless me, 
Nor feel the hands of lore that press me, 
Nor the frame with mortal terror shaking, 
Nor the heart where love's soft bands are breaking. 

"'So would /die! 
All bliss, without a pang to cloud it ; 
All joy, without a pain to shroud it ; 
Not slain, but caught up, as it were, 
To meet my Saviour in the air ! 
Oh, how bright were the realms of light 
Bursting at once upon my sight ! 

Even so I long to go, 
Those parting hours, how sad and slow !' 

" His voice grew faint, and fixed his eye, 
As if gazing on visions of ecstacy ; 
The hue of his cheeks and lips decayed ; 
Around his mouth a sweet smile played. 

They looked — he was dead ! 

His spirit had fled, 
Painless and swift as his own desire; 



244 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

His soul undressed, from her mortal vest, 
Had stepped into her ear of heavenly fire, 

And proved how bright 

"Were the realms of light 
Bursting at once upon the sight." 

To picture what followed in the twilight of that sacred 
day is impossible. The loved friend who had left him 
with cheerful pleasantry a few hours before, now, re- 
ceiving word of the sad event, came back into that 
room, and embracing the lifeless form, exclaimed in 
the agony of bereavement, " Joseph ! Joseph ! can this 
be possible!" 

He was gently lifted to his bed, and there he lay, 
just as he breathed his last. The news reached the 
lecture-room of the church. There was a group of 
members collected for prayer, previous to the evening 
service, and already the congregation had begun to 
wend their way to the sanctuary, hoping even, that 
they might hear him as usual. Silently, but with an 
impulse which could not be restrained, they left, and 
sought his chamber. The door of his house could not 
be closed against them. It was the involuntary act of 
those that felt they sought their own, and not the in- 
trusion of curiosity. It was a solemn and a sublime 
sight — that coming in and going out of loved members 
for two long twilight hours, with muffled tread and 
silent lips, to look upon their dead. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, B.D. 245 

On the afternoon of Thursday, the 28th day of 
June, venerable men lifted upon their shoulders the 
coffined remains and bore them from the home to the 
church. Such a scene as met the eye, as the proces- 
sion passed along, is seldom witnessed. A dense mass 
of people filled the street, and crowded around the 
church door. "One of the most affecting sights I 
ever saw," says one of the ministers, "was these men 
and women weeping in the street." Amid the hush 
of death, only broken by the choir chanting a plaintive 
dirge, the imposing cortege passed up the aisle and 
deposited the coffin near the pulpit. The service was 
conducted by his old friend and brother, Rev. Thos. 
Winter, D. D. Appropriate selections of Scripture 
were read by Rev. D. W. Bartine, D.D., of the M. 
E, Church, and the Rev. Richard Newton, D.D., of 
the Episcopal Church, offered prayer. 

Dr. Winter then spoke. After referring to the fact 
that four years before, almost to a day, he had offici- 
ated at the funeral of the companion of his deceased 
brother in that place, he said : 

"To-day I am called to stand over the precious re- 
mains of the husband — the father — the pastor — the 
friend himself, as suddenly called away. * * 

"Every indication betokens that an event of unu-* 



2V 



248 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

sual interest has occurred among us. The signs are 
true to the fact. Such an event has occurred — one 
which has powerfully struck the finest cords of thou- 
sands of hearts, and awakened the deepest sympathy. 
This unusual, almost unprecedented, coming together 
of so many of the ministers of Jesus Christ, solemnity 
resting on every countenance ; the sable drapery 
stretching around this sacred place; and more, this 
immense concourse of the "wise and the good, disciples, 
mostly, of a common Saviour, — all bear witness that 
an event of no common character has strongly touched 
the public heart. A great and good man has fallen 
in God's Israel — has fallen in the field of Christian 
conflict with his armor on. * * * * 

" Much will be said, and truly and justly said, in 
praise of Dr. Kennard, and much written. His fer- 
vent piety; his amiable, engaging spirit; his benevo- 
lent heart ; his catholic charity ; his friendly sympa- 
thies; his consistent, unblemished life; his untiring 
and self-sacrificing labors for the highest good of 
others ; and the wonderful success with which God has 
crowned those labors through a ministry of nearly 
fifty years, — all will be the theme of warm and de- 
served commendation and praise. 

"But the word I desire in this connection to say is, 
that could our deceased brother reply to these words 



JOSEPH H. KENNARB, D.D. 247 

of praise, just though the words may be, he would, 
from his inmost soul, say, 'Brethren, by the grace of 
God I am what I am. I was a poor, lost sinner in 
myself. I found no refuge from guilt and ruin but in 
the atoning blood of my Lord and my God. He was 
all my hope; he is now all my joy. I am a sinner 
saved by grace — sovereign, free, and eternal. And 
as to the measure of success with which God has ho- 
nored my ministry, the excellency of the power has 
been all of God, and to God be all the praise.' " * * 

Rev. J. Wheaton Smith, D. D., addressed a few 
pertinent words to the church, reminding them of the 
worth and distinctive excellence of their departed pas- 
tor, and concluded with some words of consolation to 
the bereaved family. 

Rev. Thos. Brainerd, D. D., of the Presbyterian 
Church, then said : * 

"The brother who has just taken his seat complains 
of the poverty of human language — but that does not 
concern us to-day. We assemble within these walls — 
this great crowd, to-day — not to listen to what men 
can say, but to meditate upon what God hath done. 



* We append his remarks at length, not only from the fact of its being 
a tribute from one of another denomination, but because, only a few 
months after, he himself, with equal suddenness, was called away to his 
crown. This gives to these utterances a touching significance. 



2^8 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

God hath taken very much from his poor servants to- 
day, the responsibility of instruction, and hath him- 
self undertaken the work by his own solemn and 
touching providence. We are all oppressed, as we 
come here, because nothing that we can say will ap- 
proximate to the delicacy of the obligation which has 
brought us together. I suppose that my presence 
here as a spokesman is to be attributed to this fact — 
that I am among the old ministers of the city of Phi- 
ladelphia, and that I belong to a different denomina- 
tion from that to which the departed belonged. 

" I met Dr. Kennard twenty-nine years ago, at the 
death-bed of one of his relatives, when he and I were 
in the prime of early manhood. I have known him 
ever since — not as his brethren of the same denomina- 
tion might know him; for I have seldom met him in 
the field of his own specific and denominational labor; 
but I have met him often, and almost everywhere in 
this city, where there was a general council of the 
people of God for well doing, and a general office of 
prayer for the descent of the Holy Spirit ; and I would 
say here, that while I endorse every thing that those 
who have spoken at this meeting have said of Dr. 
Kennard, I feel bound to express my special admira- 
tion of the man that was loyal ever to his own deno- 
mination, zealous ever in doing good through the me- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 249 

dium of his own denomination, and jet ready on all 
occasions and everywhere, with a living and loving 
charity, to combine for good with all that love the 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

" Our departed brother, I may say here, was a great 
man. With God, greatness is goodness ; and that is 
the highest nobility of a human life that best accom- 
plishes life's noblest purposes. You will remember 
that in St. Paul's, in London, over one of the large 
doors, is the name of Sir Christopher Wren, the ar- 
chitect of that noble pile, and under it is this sentence, 
' If you ask for his monument, look around you.' I 
might say, with regard to this temple, reared with 
sacrifice and labor, here is his monument. I might 
say of the general prevalence in this district of the 
city of a higher moral tone everywhere, this is his 
monument. I might say of those hundreds gathered 
here that look to him as a spiritual father, and who, 
as he rises before them, cry as Elisha cried, 'My fa- 
ther, my father,' these are his monuments. I might 
say of the encouragement which he has given us all of 
alld enominations, of the strength which he has im- 
parted to every good cause among us, these are tne 
abiding monuments of this good man. 

" We have sorrow here to-day, my brethren. Those 
of us that are advanced in life can ill afford to part 



250 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

with companions that have walked long and lovingly 
with us. We have sorrow here to-day ; for earth can 
little afford to lose one that so faithfully exhibited 
God's truth, and that so persuasively besought the 
Holy Spirit to give a moral resurrection to the dead. 
We sorrow to-day that when the world so much needs 
such a man, he no longer stands by our side. That 
which has made heaven brighter has made earth 
darker — and yet the Judge of all the earth does that 
which is right. 

"But while we sorrow to-day, it is with a very alle- 
viating sorrow. I confess that I can hardly imagine 
a history more perfect. To have given his heart to 
God in the freshness of his early youth; to have en- 
tered early, and efficiently, and successfully, on the 
ministry of Jesus; to have had general health for la- 
bor, and almost constant success in winning souls ; to 
have a temperament so amiable as to have the love of 
all; to have preached the gospel from the freshness of 
youth until gray hairs; and then, as has been well 
said, to have died with the harness on, at the end of a 
happy and useful life, in his own dwelling, surrounded 
by those that loved him, with a cherished son trained 
by his fidelity to preach the gospel when the father's 
lips were silent ; to have died with the love of Christ 
and in charity with mankind ; to have died without 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 251 

pain, and been followed by the tears of .the good and 
the benedictions of the lovers of Christ. Ah ! there 
can be nothing better than this that this poor earth 
can give. 

"You know I make no pretence to any particular 
charity — I am a thorough Presbyterian — but I never 
speak in a Baptist church without some very tender 
reminiscences. When I was a little boy of nine years 
old, I stood at the dying bed of a pious mother — an 
old-fashioned, Regular Baptist. She blessed me be- 
fore departing, and said this in my hearing, — 'I take 
my staff and travel on to fairer worlds than this.' And 
Brother Kennard has gone from these weeping chil- 
dren, these touched and grieved church members, 
these loved brethren, — he has gone to that fairer 
world on high, where 

' The pilgrim reposes, the fields are all green ; 
Where day never closes, nor clouds intervene. 
Oh, the sights they see there, such as eye hath not seen ! 
Oh, the songs they sing there, with hosannas between.'" 

After singing by the choir, the Bev. P. S. Henson, 
of the Broad Street Baptist Church, spoke tenderly 
of the departed, and of the loss which the younger 
ministry had sustained: 

"I remember how, when, only a few years ago, I 



252 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

came to this city and looked about me, half-frightened 
at the strange faces that I every where encountered, 
there was one face that beamed with kindly greeting, 
there was one hand that was extended warmly to 
grasp my own, there was one arm that was thrown 
about me, strong, loving. And when trouble or per- 
plexity came, I felt that I could go to Brother Ken- 
nard, or have him come to my house, and talk to him 
with the greatest profit. I felt sure of his sympathy — 
the sympathy of his great, warm, loving heart, and 
the counsel of his clear understanding. He was my 
friend — he was every body's friend. Every body felt so." 

Rev. Geo. D. Boardman, D. D., led in prayer, and 
then an opportunity was given to the congregation in 
the house and the crowds that had patiently waited in 
the street, through the long service, to take a final 
farewell. What a sight it was ! What sobs and tears ! 
What numbers of little children that had to be lifted 
up to kiss the face that beamed for them ! What num- 
bers of widows and poor persons ! Of thin, careworn 
faces, and rusty garments, there were not a few. How 
many hands, rough and wrinkled with hard work, were 
laid softly on his forehead! How many, draped in 
mourning, darkened the scene ! 

For a long, long while they came, and looked, and 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 253 

passed ; and then he was borne from the house to the 
cemetery, where he was laid by the side of his " dear- 
est earthly treasure," gently to rest till the day dawn 
and the shadows flee away. 

Over his dust the church have erected a Corinthian 
column as a symbol of his character and work — -as a 
pillar in God's spiritual temple. On one side of the 
plinth is inscribed : 

Joseph H. Kennard, D. D., 
Twenty-eight years Pastor of the Tenth Baptist 
Church. 
On the other : 

For Fifty Years an Ambassador of Heaven. 

Pure in Life — Abounding in Labors — God crowned 

him with Great Success, and the People 

with their Reverence. 

We have not space to include all of the tributes that 
were paid to the memory of Dr. Kennard, in pulpit 
and press, by associations, churches, and conventions 
of various denominations. Had we space to do so, we 
think that every wor'd that has been written in this 
memoir would be more than substantiated. It was 
remarked by many, that probably at the death of no 
other minister had such a wave of ingenuous sorrow 
22 



254 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

swept over the community of Philadelphia, nor the ex- 
pressions of love and veneration been more unanimous. 
We cannot refrain from closing with a very beautiful 
tribute of appreciation from the organ of the Presby- 
terian Church in Philadelphia, written by Rev. Dr. 
Mears : 

"A saint of God, an epistle known and read of all 
men, has suddenly been translated from this world to 
one infinitely holier and better. We dare not lament 
his departure, however deep and tender our Christian 
regard. We are sure he was living through these months 
past, quite on the verge of his heavenly home ; and it 
was the very reflection of its glory that shone in his 
countenance, that dwelt in his tones, that gave un- 
earthly fervor and inexpressible yearning to his 
prayers in the daily union meetings, and that drew all 
hearts towards him in such warm affection. 

" We have not met with an instance, in our life in 
this city, where all other personal feelings seemed so 
completely merged in the love of Christ, the sense of 
Christian brotherhood, and zeal for perishing sinners, 
as in the intercourse of Dr. Kennard with his brethren 
of other denominations, in these union prayer-meet- 
ings. He may truly be described as the central figure 
there. Never, while memory performs its office, can 
we forget that venerable form, that heavenly expres- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 255 

sion of countenance, those pleading, tearful tones that 
went straight to the heart, as he testified to the un- 
wonted joys of his soul in those sweet hours of com- 
munion ; as he plead with impenitent sinners ; as he 
brought glad news of the Holy Spirit's work in various 
parts of the land ; or declared his overflowing love for 
the brethren of different denominations with whom he 
rejoiced to commune at these meetings. Never can 
we forget the rapt ardor and importunity of his prayers 
for the outpouring of the Spirit in large measure 
upon this city. They seemed to besiege the very 
gates of heaven; and he more than once declared his 
conviction that they, and those of others, would be 
answered in a great work of grace here in the coming 
fall. He looked forward to that period with joyful 
anticipations ; he did not know that he was so near to 
a higher work and a higher joy. 

" Indeed, it does not seem unnatural that he should 
go ; so near he seemed to be living, and so closely 
communing, with the things and the interests of eter- 
nity while here. Narrow indeed must have been the 
river over which he crossed. To adopt the words of 
Bunyan — 'And now was he, as it were, in heaven be- 
fore he came to it, being swallowed up with the sight 
of angels, and with hearing their melodious notes. 
Here also he had the city itself in view, and thought 



256 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

he heard all the bells therein to ring to welcome him 
thereto. But above all, the warm and joyful thoughts 
that he had about his own dwelling there with such 
company, and that forever and ever ! Oh, by what 
tongue or pen can his glorious joy be expressed ! 
Thus he came up to the gate.' " 



SERMONS 



AND 



MISCELLANIES 



NOTE. 

The few papers which follow are included in this volume 
as mementoes, especially to his church, of their pastor's 
work. The sermons are notes taken at the moment of 
delivery, and are of course, fragmentary. The two other 
papers have reference to subjects that greatly interested 
him, and on which he was thought to speak with special 
ability. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 259 



SERMON I. 



DIVINE SOVEREIdNTY. 

" The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of 
isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him ; 
righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.'''' — Psalm 
xcvii. 1, 2. 

The theme of our present discourse is glorious, and yet so 
profound that I approach it with awe. To venture here is 
like launching a frail bark upon a fathomless, shoreless ocean. 
What can unaided reason do in determining the divine pro- 
cedure of God, as the universal sovereign? "Canst thou by 
searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty 
unto perfection? It is high as heaven: what canst thou do? 
deeper than hell: what canst thou know?" — Job xi. 7, 8. 

Yet with the Bible as chart and compass, I venture on this 
great deep. Oh! may the Holy Spirit guide my way! I do 
not presume to explain all that relates to this sublime subject. 
Questions may arise during this discourse, which neither man 
nor angel can answer. But I trust to open and explain the 
doctrine, so as to aid the humble seeker after truth, and remove 
stumbling-blocks, occasioned by a misconception of its nature. 
The text teaches : 

I. Divine Sovereignty — "The Lord reigneth." 

II. That, whatsoever obscurity rests upon the doctrine, it is 



260 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

founded in righteousness — "clouds and darkness are round 
about him; but 'righteousness and judgment are the habita- 
tion of his throne.' " 

III. That Divine Sovereignty is a source of joy to all intel- 
ligent existence. 

I. We will now consider the first proposition, "The Lord 
reigneth." 

Divine Sovereignty consists in the absolute control, or power, 
of God over all his creatures, animate or inanimate, in heaven 
or in earth, to manage and dispose of them according to his 
own will. This is necessarily true from God's nature. He is 
infinite in knowledge and wisdom, and he only. No other 
being has the attributes of God. With him is the origin of 
all things, as we read in 1 Cor. viii. 6, — "But to us there is but 
one God, the Father, of whom are all things." There can be 
but one supreme authority. This is true in human govern- 
ment. If, therefore, the universe is under government, God 
alone is sovereign. He ruleth by his power forever. He is 
Judge over all the earth. In support of this truth, let me refer 
you to the following selections from the word of God. "The 
Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his king- 
dom ruleth over all." — Ps. ciii. 19. "The Lord shall reign 
forever, even thy God, Zion, unto all generations." — Ps. 
cxlvi. 10. "Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'" — 
Job ix. 12. "But our God is in the heavens; he hath done 
whatsoever he hath pleased." — Ps. cxv. 3. "Who would not 
fear thee, O King of nations?" — Jer. x. 7. "His kingdom is 
an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation 
to generation:" "And he doeth according to his will in the 
army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and none 
can stay his hand or say unto him, 'What doest thou?'" — 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 261 

Dan. iv. 3, 35. Bead also the description of God's sovereign 
power in Ps. xxxiii. 6th to 12th verses. 

The sovereignity of God manifests itself in various acts, or 
decrees. As a Sovereign possessed of infinite knowledge, the 
whole scheme or plan of universal government was before him 
from all eternity, with all that ever could result from his 
doings. What God would do and how he would do it were 
all settled from eternity. So far as relates to us, the creation 
of the world, with all its wonders, was his first decree. " The 
builder of all things is God." This was performed in the 
person of his Son by whom "He made the worlds." In resol- 
ving to make his character known, God counselled in eternity 
with his Son and the Holy Spirit, and hence we read, "And 
God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." 

The second decree of God relates to a universal providence. 
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of 
the world." — Acts xv. 18. The wisdom that planned all 
things, directs all things, from the mission of an angel to the 
fall of a sparrow. " Oh ! the depth of the riches, both of the 
wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are his 
judgments and his ways past finding out!" "Forever, O 
Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." "They continue this 
day according to thy ordinance." 

The arrangements of his government are complete from the 
most minute to the greatest. The death of Jesus Christ illus- 
trates the fact that nothing takes place but what is known to 
God. Though wicked men in the malignity' of their hearts 
put Christ to death, acting as free agents, yet we are told, that 
he was "delivered by the determinate counsel of God." — 
Acts ii. 23. It came within the arrangement of his providen- 
tial government. God allows wicked men to plan mischief 



262 JOSEPH E. KENNARD, D.D. 

and sometimes to exhibit the vileness of their hearts, but "by 
him the counsels of the wicked are brought to naught," and 
he can make "the wrath of man to praise him." 

Eedemption is the third decree which we shall notice — re- 
demption through the sacrifice of Christ. The covenant of 
grace was formed in eternity. What a glorious contemplation ! 
It is pre-eminently the decree of God, the Triune God, clothed 
with sovereignty. Who but God himself could or would have 
provided such a sacrifice to bring back to their allegiance a re- 
bellious portion of his creation? If the stupendous thought 
had agitated the mind of Gabriel, the loftiest angel, he would 
not have ventured to suggest such a plan. No, the angels of 
God cannot fully comprehend this wonderful decree, but de- 
sire to look into it. 

Before the fall of man, the sovereignty of God was mani- 
fested in the preservation of some of the angelic host from the 
dreadful rebellion. His sovereignty is also shown in passing 
"rebellious angels by to rescue fallen man." All we can say 
is that it was all of grace — 

" Grace first contrived the way 

To save rebellious man, 
And all the steps, that grace display 

Which drew the wondrous plan." 

"Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight." 
"What we know not now, we shall know hereafter." " By grace 
are ye saved." Rich, free, sovereign grace ! It is by the good 
will of God that we are saved from hell. He sent his Son, 
prepared a body for him, and delivered hirfr up for us all. 
Christ came to do the will of the Father — to suffer instead of 
the guilty! Oh! the mystery of godliness! Who can 
fathom it ? 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D D. 263 

II. Whatever obscurity rests upon the doctrine, it is founded 
in righteousness — " Clouds and darkness are round about him, 
but righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his 
throne." 

That obscurity rests upon the divine sovereignty in its ope- 
rations and results, is not a matter of wonder, when we con- 
sider the greatness of God, and our insignificance. We should 
not forget that "secret things belong unto God." And we 
know that, while accepting the doctrine, Paul himself stood 
in awe, not able fully to comprehend it. 

Of things hard to be understood in connection with this 
subject, we may notice, first, the origin of moral evil, the fall 
of angels and man, with the admission that God is infinitely 
wise and perfect in his attributes. We must go farther back 
than the fall of man, for the origin of moral evil- Strange as 
it may seem, it originated in heaven. We are told that " the 
angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own hab- 
itation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, 
unto the judgment of the great day." — Jude 6. 

Of the fall of angels we know but little, and it concerns us 
but little. Of man's fall much is written. In regard to sin, 
it is safe to say, that it was known and permitted ; that the act 
is man's alone ; and that by it human nature was ruined. The 
doctrine of election, or God's choice of his people before the 
world was, is ever regarded as mysteriously connected with 
divine sovereignty. " He holdeth back the face of his throne, 
and spreadeth his cloud upon it." — Job xxvi. 9. Let us not 
say, because we cannot understand, we will not believe. All 
Scripture proves it. Human reason must bow with reverence. 
It must give place to faith. Besides, in rejecting the doctrine 
of election, we meet with more difficulties than in receiving it. 



264 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

Without admitting it, we cannot explain such passages as 
these — " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in hea- 
venly places in Christ; according as he hath chosen us in him, 
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and 
without blame before him in love ; having predestinated us 
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, ac- 
cording to the good pleasure of his will." — Ephesians i. 3, 5. 
" Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father."— 
1 Peter i. 2. " But God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but 
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." — 1 Thess. v. 9. 

To deny the doctrine is to deny one of the attributes of 
Deity, — God's foreknowledge. Take from God his foreknow- 
ledge, and you destroy the perfection of his attributes. As 
the Sovereign of the universe, he has in view all that ever 
has taken place and all that ever will. He knew from all 
eternity, who. would accept of the offers of salvation ; and 
whom he did foreknow, them he did predestinate. 

Out of this doctrine flow a great many spiritual blessings. 
" And we know that all things work together for good to them 
that love God, to them who are the called according to his 
purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate 
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the 
first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did pre- 
destinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he 
also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 
— Bomans viii. 28, 31. 

Another difficulty arises ; in denying this doctrine we come 
in conflict with the experience of all converted persons. 
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 
and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." — 1 John 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, JD.D. 265 

iv. 10. "We love him, because lie first loved us." — 1 John 
iv. 19. I have never yet met a Christian, however he might 
argue against the doctrine of election, who w 7 ould not acknow- 
ledge that he was saved by grace — sovereign, unmerited grace; 
that of himself he never would have come to Christ. Jesus 
says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." 

The question may be asked, "Does not the doctrine of elec- 
tion show injustice in God?" We answer "No; God is under 
no obligations to save man ; it is simply an act of his sove- 
reign pleasure and will. His love to our souls." 

" But does not the doctrine prevent the salvation of some?" 
It never will prevent a soul being saved. Salvation is to all 
that will repent and believe. TSo one is to blame, if the 
sinner is lost, but himself. Man does not sin from necessity, 
but from choice. His heart is inclined to evil. And it is only 
by the grace of God that he is saved. If we believe this, we 
believe the whole doctrine of election. For if God saves by 
his grace, he must have intended to do it, and if he intended 
to do it, v:hen, we ask, and where did that intention arise ? 
We answer, in the counsels of eternity ; and Scripture supports 
the assertion. There he arranged to come to earth. in the per- 
son of his Son, and die for sinners — for every one that is will- 
ing to come unto him. Oh ! the electing love of God ! 
What a glorious subject ! Man will never choose to go to 
heaven in God's way, — grace accomplishes the work from first 
to last. 

Man may be unable to understand the connection between 
human agency and God's divine purpose ; neither can he un- 
derstand the mysteries of nature, even the wondrous union of 
his spirit with his body. He may not comprehend why evil 
exists, for instance, the evil of war, nor reconcile it with the 
23 



268 JOSEPH E. KENNARD, I). I). 



fact that God is love. What we know not now we shall know 
hereafter. We wait the explanations of eternity. * * * 

III. Though we may not be able to comprehend all con- 
cerning the doctrine of God's sovereignty, yet a sovereign 
God is the cause of universal joy to all the intelligent uni- 
verse. " The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the mul- 
titude of the isles be glad thereof!" As far as it is understood 
that there is an all-wise, almighty, and benevolent Being 
over all, directing all, and seeking the good of all ; who sup- 
plieth the wants of every living thing, it creates joy and re- 
joicing. Let even the heathen know it, and they cast their 
idols to the moles and the bats. And this joy spreads beyond 
the earth; it reaches into heaven — "And every creature, 
which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such 
as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, 
1 Blessing, and honor, and glory and power, be unto him that 
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.' " 
May the Lord give you wisdom ! 



JOSEPH H. EENNARD, B.D. 267 



SERMON II.* 



GODLY SORROW. 

"For godly sorrow worheth repentance unto salvation.'" — 
2 Cor. vii. 10. 

The text discriminates between two kinds of sorrow, not only 
as to their nature in themselves, but, more particularly, as to 
their effects, upon man's moral and spiritual nature. "The 
sorrow of this world," which is selfish, consisting of regret, 
discontent, or remorse, leads to death, to darkness, hardness 
of heart, and greater ungodliness and misery. " Godly sorrow," 
which is the product of the Spirit and the truth, leads to 
such a change of heart, as makes its subject a new creature, 
and an heir of eternal life. 

To render this great change possible, and practicable, was the 
great object of Christ's mission, and to render repentance a 
fact in the experience of every individual is the chief pur- 
pose of the Christian ministry. 

I. What then is godly sorrow? Its nature, operation, and 
end? We have said the text recognizes a distinction between 
godly and worldly sorrow. They differ as to their causes and 
source; as well as in their effects and consequences. "I re- 



[* Preached Sunday evening, April 7th, 1865, and phone-graphically 
reported.] 



2GS JOSEPH II KENXARD, D.D. 

joice, "says Paul," that I made you sorry," not that he wished 
to distress them, — "I rejoice that ye were made sorry, after a 
godly sort.'" I rejoice, not in your sorrow as the end, but in 
that sorrow, in its relation to your spiritual correction and 
improvement. "What carefulness, vigilance, heart-searching, 
etc.," it produced. We are all familiar with sorrow, we have 
been acquainted with it from our earliest days. As a nation we 
have had much experience of a painful and sorrowing kind? 
during the last four years. On every hand, every day, we feel 
its- pangs, or witness its influence on others; but this is not 
godly sorrow, for it does not work repentance. We have illus- 
trations of this kind of sorrow in the people of Nineveh, on 
the preaching of Jonah. " They put on sackcloth, and mourned 
many days;" but there were none of the essential elements of 
godly sorrow in their mourning. Their chief concern was to 
avert their ruin — the strongest feeling was fear, and their rul- 
ing motive selfishness. When danger was removed, it left no 
gracious change: they would soon forget, and become again, 
as earthly, and thoughtless, and God-forgetting as before. 
Their sorrow was followed by a reaction, as in all such cases ; 
and the hearts of many would become more hardened and cal- 
lous, as the natural reaction of that kind of remorse and fear 
of which it consisted. Spiritual death followed. We have 
another illustration, in the anguish of Judas. His was the 
bitterest, death-bearing sorrow which impelled him to take his 
own life. "He went and hanged himself." Using the term 
in a popular and worldly sense, we have seen the most bitter 
repentance, followed by greater wickedness and ungodliness; 
the most terrible grief and anguish of heart, end in greater 
carelessness and indifference ; seen persons on their, supposed, 
death-bed bewail their past lives, and evince great distress of 



JOSEPH H. KEXXARD. D.D. 269. 

mind; make great promise? of a better life, should they be re- 
stored, but we have seen them also, on their recovery, plunge 
deeper into worldliness, frivolity, and gayety. All their sor- 
row sprang from a love of the present world, and a dread of 
the world to come. It was made up of worldliness and re- 
morse. — Under the fear of death, they seemed subdued; but, 
when the weight that forced their spirits down was taken away, 
they recoiled from God, and bounded back to their old godless 
and thoughtless course. 

So soon as the gates of death were closed, and sickness gave 
place to returning health, their repentance was gone, and their 
solemn promises were broken. We may see the same kind of 
selfish sorrow in our courts of justice. The guilty criminals 
look and feel sorrowful. While the jury is deciding whether 
they are guilty, or not guilty, they experience great anxiety, 
and endure bitter pangs of remorse. Should the decision be 
"guilty;" their grief is augmented, and they are ready to make 
the most solemn asseverations of future good conduct, but with, 
a levity almost incredible, should the jury pronounce them, 
"not guilty," — they cast off their sorrow and resolutions 
together, and return, with greedy haste, to their old way of 
life. 

Their sorrow was forced, not sincere. It sprung from dread 
of incarceration or punishment, and only tended to a course of 
crime which leads to death. 

There is a law repentance with which we are all more or 
less familiar. The guilty sinner feels that the law condemns 
him. He is sensible of his guilt ; sensible that the law is just, 
and that its dreadful punishment is deserved ; but this sorrow, 
though frequently, or generally, the beginning of exercises of 
mind, which may be initiatory to a better sorrow, often ends 

23* 



270 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

here. He does not hate sin; he merely deprecates its conse- 
quences. This differs entirely from godly sorrow, for that not 
only implies a deep sense of personal guilt and ruin, but of 
the evil of sin, the mercy of God, and of personal gratitude. 
It looks upon sin as an evil in itself, but especially as a wrong 
committed against a God of love. Legal sorrow was felt by 
Felix when he trembled, as Paul reasoned of justice, temper- 
ance, and a judgment to come. He trembled indeed, but he 
dismissed Paul as hastily as he could; he banished the cause 
of his uneasiness, and his sorrow soon subsided. 

II. We have shown what godly sorrow is not, we now pro- 
ceed to the affirmative; and will endeavor to show what godly 
sorrow is : — It is styled " godly." It is rightly so styled ; because 
God is its source, its cause, and its end. It flows from God, is 
produced by him, and leads the soul back to him. It begins, 
continues, and ends in God. That God is its source and cause, 
will appear from its nature. It has nothing in common with 
the natural or carnal mind 

It is not mere natural sympathy, nor does it spring from 
selfishness, self-love, or fear. It is not sorrow on account of 
guilt, abstractedly as such; nor for guilt or folly, on account 
of the consequences. It has not so much a relation to the 
individual, or his safety, or danger, — as to God. 

It takes deep cognizance of the fact of personal guilt ; recog- 
nises or assumes the condition of sin and ruin ; but these views 
are but comparative, and are left behind. It is the conscious- 
ness of having sinned against the glorious Creator and Benefac- 
tor — the best Friend; — a realization of God as a loving Father — 
a sense of his mercy in the sacrifice of his beloved Son ; — a 
belief of the fact, that, even while he was an enemy to him, 
he lavished upon him his infinite love and paternal tender- 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 271 

ness ; yea, even while he was employing the powers God had 
given him, to slight, insult, neglect, and injure him. He 
goes to Calvary, and there in the amazing spectacle of his 
suffering Saviour, the Son of God, bearing his sins in his own 
body on the tree; he realizes what God has done for him; how 
Christ has loved him, and still loves him ; and his soul is melted 
into contrition. It is then he hates sin, loves holiness, feels 
his whole soul drawn out in tenderest and purest, most unsel- 
fish love. His heart is changed, he becomes a new Creature. 
There is nothing of fear ; no ; it is love that subdues and melts. 
Nothing of law; no; it is the grace of the gospel that affects 
him. This sorrow is a blessed, gracious, loving, unselfish sor- 
row. It is full of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit. "They 
shall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn, etc." 
Zech. x. 12. It grows out of Christ crucified. The facts that 
crowd upon memory, the associations that cluster around him 
as he hangs on the cross, viewed by the eye of faith, are sug- 
gestive of thoughts, and productive of emotions, which induce 
a gracious contrition, and a tender loving sorrow, which lead 
to repentance. 

It is "godly" sorrow, because God is its object. It does not 
lead to the law; not to creature works, or acts of penance. 
When the soul is first convinced of sin, and perceives its dan- 
ger, it will try to work out a fitness for mercy by legal merit; 
but, by a distressing experience, every avenue of escape from 
ruin is closed ; every source of help cut off. It then gives up, 
in despair of all human expedients. Then Christ is appre- 
hended when the convicted sinner is driven to Calvary, as at 
once his hope and joy. Here he discovers, in the dying 
Saviour, the infinite and amazing love of God, and is persuad- 
ed, both of his ability and willingness to save, even the chief 



272 JOSEPH B. KEXNARD, D.D. 



of sinners. God is no longer an object of terror; the sonl no 
longer seeks to escape from him: but, in deep contrition, with 
love, and peace, mingled with a sense of God's mercy, and his 
own great folly and ingratitude ; with a tender, broken, loving 
heart, he gives himself to Christ, makes himself over to him 
as his forever. He now realizes that God is good in himself, 
and he loves him for his own sake — loves him for what he is. 

The sight of his sin, discovered in the light of his heavenly 
Father's goodness, humbles him. God as his best Friend, and 
compassionate Father, becomes an object so absorbing and 
dear to his heart, that he sees sin, not in its consequences ; not 
so much in its relation to man, as in itself, loathsome and 
vile ; and in its relation to such a Being, as a grievous offence 
against him who made him, sustained, and blessed him from 
his earliest existence ; who gave his own Son to bleed and die 
on the cross to save him; and who, notwithstanding his great 
sin, and folly, and provocations, watched over him with a 
father's love, and bore with him in tender compassion all his 
life. 

Such is godly sorrow. Christ has given an illustration of 
this view, in the parable of the prodigal son, and especially in 
that part of it, in which the prodigal is represented, after he 
came to himself, arose, and went to his father, as sobbing on his 
father's breast ; and in words of unutterable love and sorrow, 
saying : " Father, I have sinned. I have grievously sinned ; 
sinned every day." He felt the throbbing of his father's heart ; 
he loved his father. Oh, how he loved him ! He was sorry he 
had sinned. Oh, how sorry ! In this sorrow there was nothing 
of fear. Gratitude, love, thankfulness, joy, swallowed up 
every other emotion. Such is a true picture of a repenting 
sinner. We have another illustration in the exclamation of 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, JD.D. 273 

Job: "I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee?" Oh, how 
shall I make satisfaction? What can I do to undo the past? 
How can I prove my love ? Or, as in the language of Paul : 
" What wilt thou have me to do ?" 

My dear friends, have you this godly sorrow? How does it 
affect you ? Where does it lead you ? To what does it prompt 
you? Does it melt your heart in" tender sympathy with 
Christ, because you have sinned? I speak to some who have 
been lately converted. Does it make you sorry, because you 
have sinned? Is your sorrow the sorrow that springs from 
love ? Does it lead you to hate and shun sin, as an evil in the 
sight of God ? as something committed against him ? Does it 
lead you to repose on the finished work of Christ ? Does it 
cause you to appreciate and love him more and more? Has it 
led you to God? Can you now love him as a father? and do 
you regard yourself — do you now act as his child? Then 
yours has been godly sorrow ; yours was true repentance. You 
have experienced a change of heart. You are now " a new 
creature in Christ Jesus." Old things have passed away. 
Behold all things with you are new. 

I wish you deeply to realize, that this kind of repentance, 
only, is genuine, and that it is indispensable, absolutely indis- 
pensable, to salvation. It works issues ; leads to a change of 
character, disposition, desires, pursuits, which change the rela- 
tion of the soul to God, and to the future world. li i;akes the 
soul from under the sentence of condemnation, frees it from 
the power of sin, and inspires a well-founded hope of a blessed 
immortality. It is a "translation, out of the kingdom of 
Satan, into the kingdom of God's dear Son." When we leave 
the world, we leave it as such, or as " children of wrath, even 
as others." There is no middle connection; no third issue. 



274 JOSEPH H. KUNiVAED, D.D. 

The renewed, state and heaven, are inseparable. No regenera- 
tion — no heaven. But regeneration includes repentance. Yea, 
more, repentance is inseparably connected with regeneration. 
It is a change of mind, such as has been described. Yet, be it 
remembered, that while godly sorrow is not repentance, con- 
summated, it is that exercise of the mind and. heart, without 
which, this change cannot take place. It worketh, and it, alone, 
worketh repentance unto salvation. 

I might speak of the reasonableness and propriety of godly 
sorrow; but I speak especially and emphatically of its neces- 
sity. It is necessary, because repentance is necessary. God 
demands it, and you cannot be excused. No exemption can 
be made. Its necessity appears from the nature of the case, 
the constitution of the soul, the relation of sin to misery, and 
the necessity of holiness to the divine favor. The soul is so 
constituted that sin must work sorrow and woe. Holiness 
alone can give joy and peace: and such is the character of 
God, that when he pardons, he must at the same time destroy, 
in the pardoned soul, the power of sin ; must induce holiness of 
heart. There can be no freedom from sin till it is repented 
of; no holiness, until the heart loves God. When once the 
soul apprehends Christ as the embodiment of the goodness 
and amazing love of God, the heart is filled with contrition ; 
with godly sorrow, — not till then. No godly sorrow, no 
repentance; no repentance, no salvation, are the alternatives. 
Christ assured those who heard him, that, unless they repented, 
they should all likewise perish. "Except ye be converted, ye 
can in no case enter the kingdom of heaven." "Turn ye, turn 
ye," says Ezekiel, in the chapter we read; "for why will ye 
die? " Why ? Die ye must, except ye turn ; be lost ; be dead to 
mercy, love, pardon, eternal life. Be excluded from God's 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 275 

presence and favor; from heaven and the society of the blessed 
forever. Compared with this exclusion, that of our first 
parent's from Eden, was but a trifle. 

God assures us we must repent; that there is no vindictive- 
ness on his part, but that the change indicated by the word 
repentance, is indispensable. He exonerates himself, if Ave 
will risk the consequence of impenitence ; lays the blame en- 
tirely on us, and then remonstrates with us: "Why will you 
die?" O God-rejecting, Christ-despising, soul-neglecting, sin- 
loving sinners! why will ye die? Is it possible, that, with 
your eyes open, you are blind! 

He assures us, in most positive language, that perdition is 
wide open to receive the impenitent, and heaven is closed. 
God assures us there is deliverance; but only to the soul that 
repents. When once heaven is closed against you, who will 
unlock its gate? Who is there that can take away the bars? 
When once the soul is the subject of godly sorrow, mercy 
herself throws wide open the door ; but not till then. Some 
dread repentance as something terrible. This dread has its 
origin in a legal spirit, in ignorance of true repentance. It is 
the offspring of superstition, and mistakes remorse for godly 
sorrow; penance, for repentance. There is more of joy and 
light, than of sorrow and gloom. The tears you see, are not 
tears of sadness. There is no gloom, no fear, no appre- 
hension; there is a grateful sense of gratitude and love; a 
new-born hope of heaven; a new realization of sonship; a 
blessed experience of the friendship ; the wondrous love of 
God. 



276 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 



MISCELLANIES. 



ON THE BEST WAY OF TREATING ANXIOUS INQUIRERS. 

The anxious inquirer or awakened sinner is an object of 
unspeakable interest to all intelligent existence. His conver- 
sion will be a cause of joy in heaven and on earth. Holy 
angels will desire to look into the mystery of his redemption, 
and devils be amazed at the power by which he is delivered 
from going down to the pit. 

Such being the circumstances which surround the anxious 
sinner, with what trembling solicitude should we approach to 
counsel him or direct his course to eternal life ! What a fear- 
ful responsibility rests upon the guide, who says to the lost, 
"This is the way, walk in it." And who is sufficient for this 
duty? What holiness, what love, what knowledge, what wis- 
dom, what fidelity, is required in the proper treatment of all 
those who would see Jesus. The man who sustains this char- 
acter has lived in habitual neglect of his Creator's claims, and 
in direct opposition to his sovereign control. "The God in 
whose hands his breath is, and whose are all his ways hath he 
not glorified." But he is now convinced of sin; and asks with 
a heart oppressed, what he must do to be saved. 

At a moment like this, the first impulse of the benevolent 
mind is to comfort the mourner. But this must not be done 
too hastily, lest we slightly heal the wound, and become phy- 



JOSEPH H. KEJSTNARD, DD. 277 

sicians of no value. Listen patiently and with deep concern 
to the statement he has to make; encourage him to speak 
with freedom ; and test all he may say by the word of God, 
and your own experience and observation of the effect of godly 
sorrow, which worketh repentance unto salvation. 

The inquirer must be instructed. This is true, not only of 
those whose knowledge in other things is limited, but also of 
the wise and prudent, from whom divine things are hidden, 
and who are generally children in spiritual understanding. 
Thus, when Mcodemus, a teacher in Israel, came to inquire 
of our Lord, he was as ignorant of spiritual things as the poor 
Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. So the Ethiopian eunuch, 
though a statesman, able to manage the finances of a kingdom, 
felt his need of some one to guide, and instruct him in the 
first principles of the doctrine of Christ. 

We must exhibit with great simplicity the divine character, 
so that a clear view of its excellency and glory may lead to 
self-abasement. We must speak of the government and sov- 
ereignty of God that the sinner's dependence on his unmerited 
mercy may fully appear. It is difficult for the human heart to 
be reconciled to God's sovereignty. Explain this profound 
subject; let the penitent see that his salvation is based thereon, 
and he will bow in admiration of this high and holy doctrine. 
Give the inquirer instruction concerning the law of God; show 
him how exceeding broad it is ; let him know that it has to do 
with the thoughts of his heart; that it requires, a perfect obe- 
dience; and that the demand is consistent with the wisdom 
and benevolence of God. Thus shall legal hopes and self- 
righteousness fall, and the trembling sinner will turn to be- 
hold the Lamb of God ; and, whilst in wonder he gazes on the 
sacrifice of Christ, give him the history of the amazing trans- 
24 



278 JOSEPH H. KEJVNARD, D.D. 

action, explain the covenant of redemption, and assure him 
that he must be saved by unmerited grace alone : yea, deeply 
impress the truth that we are saved and "called with a holy 
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own 
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before 
the world began." 

Dwell on the mediation of Christ, his work and righteous- 
ness; speak of his glorious offices; tell the inquirer that he is 
the prophet, whom we are to hear in all things;— the high- 
priest of our profession, who appeared to put away sin by the 
sacrifice of himself;— the king, who claims the heart for his 
throne. Teach him what it is to be born again. Explain the 
nature of faith and repentance, in language and by illustra- 
tions easy to be understood. Many who inquire the way to 
Zion make but little progress for want of correct views of the 
principles we have enumerated. Let there be light, that the 
inquirer may see his way plainly, and walk without stumbling. 

The course we recommend will require time and patience; 
and we must be willing to sacrifice time and act with delibera- 
tion, in a service so vastly important and responsible. 

It is evident that in years past, this work has been done in 
too much haste. Multitudes have been baptized with very 
little instruction; and the sad consequences are painfully 
manifest in our languishing Zion. Multitudes can say little 
more than, that they attended a protracted meeting, — felt that 
they were sinners, — went forward with the anxious, — prayed 
to the Lord, — felt happy, — and were baptized. Ask them 
what it is to be born again? to be justified by the righteous- 
ness of Christ? or question them in regard to the obligations 
of a Christian, and they are dumb with silence. The blame 
must rest on their spiritual guide. Teach inquirers whatsor 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 279 

ever Christ has commanded, and they will be intelligent, de- 
voted, and stable Christians. 

I may further remark, that the temperament and former 
habits, or manner of life, of the inquirer should be ascertained 
as far as possible, that we may vary our teaching and counsel 
accordingly. Some are naturally impetuous in their move- 
ments, and remarkable for action. Such will be likely to 
make haste in joining the church. They need no incentive to 
go forward, but rather to be restrained, and tenderly cautioned. 
Others are prone to despondency and distrust, under the influ- 
ence of which, they incline to delay doing their duty. These 
should be encouraged by the promises of the gospel, and by 
oft repeated, affectionate counsel and prayer. Whilst to the 
former we act the part of the porter at the door, to prevent 
improper admission, to the latter we must become a good 
shepherd, and carry the lambs in our arms. Some are dis- 
posed to attach too much importance to ordinances and a pub- 
lic profession of religion, and need to be told distinctly, that 
the kingdom of God is not in word ; but in power; — that right- 
eousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost are its essential 
elements, — that religion is a life, not merely a name, but living 
unto him who died for us and rose again. Others are not as 
deeply impressed with the duty of confessing Christ as they 
should be. In such cases, we must urge the necessity of obe- 
dience ; and remind the halting, that obedience is the fruit of 
love, and that the Lord himself hath said, "If ye love me keep 
my commandments." Assure such, that in neglecting duty, 
they wrong their own souls, and that in keeping Christ's com- 
mands there is great reward. Explain the nature and design 
of gospel ordinances, that their importance may be suitably 
felt. Encourage the weak to go in the strength of the Lord 



280 JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 

to make mention of his righteousness and of his only. Ani- 
mate the faint with the promise, that they that wait upon the 
Lord shall grow stronger and stronger. 

Finally. We must entreat the anxious inquirer to give up 
every sin, especially the sin that most easily besets him; to 
separate himself from every calling and every association, from 
the influence of which his salvation is liable to be hindered or 
a growth in grace retarded; to connect himself with those who 
are most holy in life, and most fervent in spirit ; to place him- 
self under the means of grace as far as possible; to pray with- 
out ceasing in his closet ; to search the Scriptures daily, under 
the full conviction that they are given by inspiration of God, 
and are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be per- 
fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." And when 
we shall have done all that man can do to enlighten, impress, 
and guide the pilgrim to Zion, we shall have occasion to con- 
fess to God our insufficiency, and fervently beseech the Lord — 
who is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth 
such as be of a contrite spirit — in pursuance of his most gra- 
cious appointment, to bind up the broken-hearted; — to pro- 
claim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to 
them that are bound; — to comfort all that mourn; to give unto 
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the gar- 
ment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be 
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he 
might be glorified. 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 281 



ON INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CHURCHES. 



It is evident from the word of God, that the suhmission of 
the world to Christ, as King in Zion, was determined in the 
councils of mercy before time began. The Divine Spirit, by 
the prophets, assures us that, "his kingdom shall be from sea 
even to sea; and from the rivers even to the end of the earth;" 
that "he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set 
judgment in the earth and the isles shall wait for his law!" 

It is further manifest that all true gospel churches exist by 
the divine purpose, wisdom, and providence]; and that through 
their means mainly his glorious design of the world's recon- 
ciliation, by the death of the cross, is to be accomplished. 

Such churches are efficient. They are the salt of the earth, 
and the light of the world. They preserve the world from 
destruction, and enlighten it in the way of salvation. This 
they have done to an extent, that no other institution ever 
known to men, has attained, or can attain. 

Christianity is not a failure; and yet the question, How can 
the efficiency of the churches be increased? is invested with 
solemn importance, and demands prayerful consideration. 

It is the prevailing opinion among the most intelligent, 
reflecting, and devoted disciples of Christ, that churches gen- 
erally, are not as efficient by any means as they should be ; 

24* 



282 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D. 

and that they do not lengthen their cords and strengthen their 
stakes as they might do, with the great and increasing facili- 
ties for doing good now at command. 

The question before us, is probably as difficult to answer 
as it is important in its character. But we submit the follow- 
ing, as among the things that seem to be wanting and must 
be regarded, if we desire enlarged prosperity, 

I. A deeper affection must be cherished for the church itself. 

Many there are who claim the privileges of membership in 
a church, yet seem insensible to its importance and excellence 
as a divine institution. They appear to be unmindful that it 
originated in the wisdom and knowledge of God; that it cost 
the death of Christ, its founder; that it is the noblest and 
most glorious of all institutions on the earth, and is to stand 
and nourish when all others shall fall and pass away. What 
numbers virtually forsake the church, to connect themselves 
with mere worldly associations; mingling their sympathies 
and efforts, in some cases, with the avowed enemies of Christ, 
and of his blood-bought church ; frequently attending their 
meetings to the neglect of the people of God, with whom they 
have solemnly covenanted, before heaven and earth, to meet 
and co-operate. Oh! how different from David, who, though 
a king, preferred Jerusalem to his chief joy; whose soul ever 
longed for the courts of the Lord; to whom the saints were 
the excellent of the earth and the companions of his joys. 

With the sentiments and conduct of the former, a church is 
rendered weak, and must prove inefficient; with those of the 
latter, she will prosper. When the members of a church unite 
in heart to pray for her peace, and to seek her good above 
their chief earthly joy ; when they take sweet counsel together 
as they walk to the house of God in company, we shall see the 
place of Zion's tent enlarged and her converts multiplied. 



JOSEPH II KENNARD, D.D. 283 

II. A deeper conviction of individual responsibility is needed. 

There are many who can see that there is much to be done 
by the church, but who fail to understand or realize their own 
duty. With such, there is a satisfaction in the thought, that 
the church will sustain her prayer-meetings, teach her Sunday- 
schools, visit her sick, provide for her poor, and support her 
missions, whilst they are all the day idle, or stand as cold 
spectators of the labor and sacrifice of their brethren. Such, 
indeed, have their excuses; but .they will not satisfy the 
Master, who, when he comes, will call them slothful servants. 
How different are they from that young Christian, whose diary 
contained this fired purpose : "Besolved, that I will, the Lord 
being my helper, think, speak, and act as an individual; for 
as such, I must live; as such, I must die; stand before God, 
and be damned, or saved for ever and ever!" 

How unlike Harlan Page, — a poor mechanic, — who, in the 
immediate prospect of death, and after years of surprising- 
activity and usefulness, said : " When I first obtained a hope, 
1^ felt that I must labor for souls ; and I prayed, year after 
year, that God would make me the means of saving souls." 
His prayers were answered. Hear his dying words : "I know 
it is all of God's grace, but I think I have evidence that more 
than one hundred souls have been converted to God, through 
my own direct and personal instrumentality." Oh, had we 
such men and women in all our churches, what efficiency, 
what triumphs might we not behold ! 

But some will say, he was an extraordinary man. True ; 
but what made him so? His talents were moderate; his edu- 
cation limited ; his body weak. Ah ! it was what every church 
member may possess, and should ever manifest, — deep piety, 
strong faith, and earnest effort! Ye members of Christ's body, 



284 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D 



awake! Arise! Consider your individual responsibility to 
work while it is day, for the night of death cometh when no 
man can work. 

III. There must he an increase of piety, founded on principle. 
It is useless to conceal the truth, that the piety of a large 
majority of church members is but superficial, and is very like 
a shallow stream, whose flow is only kept up by occasional 
showers of rain. For greater efficiency, we need a deeper 
stream, and a continuous flow of piety — a river, whose streams 
shall make glad the city of our God, and fertilize the desert 
land. To use another illustration, — when the church shall 
come forth with a piety clear as the sun, and fair as the moon, 
she shall be potent as an army with banners, the strongholds 
of Satan shall fall before her, and righteousness prevail in the 
earth. 

Why is it that we must go out of the church, and form other 
societies to advance the cause of Christ in the world? Is it not 
her mission? Why depend on exciting anniversaries, eloquent 
speeches, and numerous little plans, to obtain money ? We do 
not condemn benevolent institutions. We know that wise and 
good men think it better to make progress in this way than to 
stand still. But we ask again, Why is it necessary? It was not 
so with the disciples at Jerusalem ; they resorted to no such 
means ; yet they had money for every necessity, and accom- 
plished more than we do. It was not so with the church at 
Thessalonica ; she was a missionary body in her strongest sym- 
pathies and efforts ; from her sounded out the word of the 
Lord, and in every place " her faith toward God was spread 
abroad;" her influence was mighty; she was strong in faith 
and fervent in piety. 

If churches are to be efficient abroad, they must begin with 



JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 285 

themselves and stir up their strength and zeal; they must 
receive an unction from the Holy One ; their piety must be 
more decided, steady, and convincing. 

IV. There is also an important connection between the pulpit 
and efficiency. 

Seldom is prosperity known without a stated ministry. He 
that gave pastors and teachers understood their necessity and 
importance; and as a church seldom prospers with an empty 
pulpit, so neither will she succeed with an unsuitable supply. 
She needs instruction. JSTor can she depend on mere intellec- 
tual efforts, or a display of talent. An icicle may glitter, but 
sheds no warmth. She must have what the inquiring heathen 
sought, when he asked our first missionary in Burmah, if he 
was "Jesus Christ's man." Let the church have men who 
shall intelligently and earnestly preach Jesus Christ, in his 
character, work, and offices, in the pulpit; and be Jesus 
Christ's men in all their conduct and conversation out of the 
pulpit— men who have learned to be meek and lowly of heart, — ■ 
of whom their hearers shall take knowledge that they have 
been with Jesus. With such preaching and such examples, 
we may expect progressive efficiency. In view of the impor- 
tance of a stated ministry, the present instability in the pas- 
toral office is much to be deplored. Both churches and 
ministers are suffering in their character by sudden and 
frequent changes; and if it be not prevented, the influence of 
the ministry and the churches will be to a great extent lost on 
the community. 

V. Again, efficiency may be increased by proper attention to 
Sunday-school instruction. 

There is evidently at this time too great a distance between 
the church and the Sunday-school. There is too little respon- 



286 JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D.D. 

sibility felt in this matter. The work of teaching children 
the fear of the Lord is committed principally to young disci- 
ples, who themselves feel that they need to be taught. This 
ought not so to be; the Sunday-school needs the most judicious, 
experienced, and intelligent men and women that can be 
secured for this work — individuals whose age and standing 
will command respect, and fix attention ; and these may be 
assisted by the younger to mutual advantage and greater 
success in their glorious work. 

VI. The church may also extend her influence by laboring 
beyond her immediate bounds, both in the city and in populous 
districts of the country. 

Having first chosen for herself the most important location 
that can be secured, and reared a house of worship that 
shall be convenient and attractive, without extravagance or 
unnecessary expense, — which is now a growing evil; let her 
next look out other locations of growing importance, whether 
among the rich and prosperous or near the dwellings of the 
poor and destitute, who seldom venture where the more fortu- 
nate resort, and whose souls are of equal value. 

Let Sunday-schools be opened; establish prayer-meetings; 
distribute tracts ; and persuade the erring to seek the Lord. 
Let the pastor go out as oft as possible and encourage such 
efforts by occasional preaching in hired rooms, or if need be, 
in the open air. Employ, where it may be possible, a mis- 
sionary, to devote all his time to such Christ-like labors. Such 
efforts will, like leaven in the meal, influence the whole mass ; 
or, as in the symbol of the mustard tree, offer shelter and con- 
solation to souls exposed to danger, or seeking rest. 

How great a blessing must such a church be to a commu- 
nity! And why is it, we ask, that so little of this kind of 



JOSEPH H. KENNARB, B.B. 287 

labor is performed? The expense is comparatively small, and 
the prospect of good is great. 

Oh ! how can men of God seat themselves from Sunday to 
Sunday on their soft cushions in his house, and feast on the 
bread of life, while thousands are neglected and perishing 
without a crumb from mercy's table? Let all the churches 
look at this state of things, and give themselves no rest until 
something is done for the souls of the needy. 

VII. We remark further that efficiency may be increased by an 
increase of liberality in the use of property. 

To labor, there must be added more liberal contributions. 
From year to year the opportunity to do good by the use of 
property is constantly increasing. In the support of more 
missionaries, in the circulation of the Scriptures with other 
books and tracts rilled with Bible truth ; in the building of 
houses of worship ; in maintaining the stated ministry ; and in 
many other ways, money may be as directly employed for the 
advancement of religion, as personal effort or preaching the 
gospel. Yet while the Lord is blessing his people with a gen- 
erous increase in wealth, it is truly humiliating to see with 
what reluctance they bring their tithes into his store-house, or 
contribute of their substance to extend his blessed cause in the 
world. 

Our missionary societies are constantly presenting facts that 
are deeply affecting, showing that the harvest is great, and the 
laborers few; and that others might now be employed with 
the most encouraging prospect of success. Yet with the fields 
all white and ready for the harvest, what unwillingness exists 
to pay the charges of men ready and anxious to enter upon 
the work! Many individuals of their abundance might sup- 
port each a missionary, yet whole churches might be found 



288 JOSEPH K KENNARD, D.D 



who give nothing,' whilst many others give far below their 
ability. 

And what in this connection is still more distressing, houses 
built for God, and publicly dedicated to his service are suffer- 
ed to remain burdened with debt, while, the church is dis- 
honored in the community and despised by creditors, who are 
denied their just claims. Must this state of things continue? 
Is it not the fruit of covetousness ? and is not covetousness idol- 
atry ? Arise, O ye churches of the Son of God, and remove this 
hinderance to your efficiency. Set before you the example of 
your Lord, who was rich and for your sakes became poor that 
ye through his poverty might be rich. Eemember that your 
Saviour has a claim, not only on your persons, but on your pro- 
perty. You are stewards. Christ is your Lord. He says, 
"Occupy till I come." And to him an account must be ren- 
dered of the use of all you possess in this world. 

Finally, let there be a deep searching of all our hearts, and 
fervent prayer, that in all thiggs in which we are found want- 
ing we may be corrected, so that as individuals, as churches, 
and as ministers, we may live and labor for him that died for 
us ; and deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of the 
sanctifying influence of the church on the world, let each one 
say: "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jeru- 
salem's sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go 
forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that 
burnetii." 



MAY 4 1901 



